SD30: History and extent of prescribed fire influence ground nesting bee diversity

As forests have been proven to provide necessary habitat for bee diversity and conservation, understanding how forest characteristics and management practices affect ground nesting bee diversity and composition is critical. Here, we calculated local and landscape characteristics of forests to determine the combined effect of local and landscape factors on ground nesting bee abundance, richness, and diversity. We quantified flowering vegetation, tree community composition, canopy closure, presence of burn, and ground cover composition. We also used available soil composition and burn history and extent data to determine the effects of prescribed fire on bee diversity. Our findings aim to elucidate the relationship between landscape management and forest structure on ground nesting bee diversity.