Cost-power tradeoffs in pollinator resource methodology: A simulation-based assessment

Restored tallgrass prairies play a vital role in conserving native insect pollinators, in part by providing floral resources through diverse perennial forbs. The abundance and diversity of forbs are key factors that drive bee community diversity and abundance. However, it is not clear how to most efficiently quantify floral resources given constraints of time and cost. Here we address the methodological challenge of detecting differences in variable prairie floral communities by evaluating how sampling design and intensity affect the precision of floral resource estimates. We conducted intensive transect-based sampling of floral displays in restored tallgrass prairies across southwestern Minnesota. Using simulations of sampling intensity at both transect and site levels, we assessed trade-offs between sampling cost and statistical power. Our findings offer insight into best practices for monitoring pollinator-relevant floral resources, with broader implications for ecological research and restoration management.