D3241: Assessing the foraging efficiency of bee species in restored Oregon prairie habitats

: Effective cross-pollination by bees depends not only on their foraging fidelity— how consistently they visit flowers of the same plant species—but also on the quantity and diversity of pollen they carry. These factors directly influence the reproductive success of native plants, particularly in restored habitats where ecological resilience is still developing. In this study, we assessed the relative foraging efficiency of multiple bee species collected from first- and second-year restored prairie habitats in Oregon. Foraging fidelity was quantified based on observed floral visitation patterns, while pollen load analyses were conducted to determine both quantity and host-plant specificity. Our findings reveal distinct interspecific differences in pollination efficiency, with implications for the selection of pollinator species in habitat restoration projects. These results inform best practices for pollinator conservation and prairie restoration, emphasizing the importance of understanding bee behavior in early successional landscapes.