Jim Rivers, an associate professor of wildlife ecology at Oregon State University’s College of Forestry, has been awarded the prestigious Bullard Fellowship from Harvard University to further his groundbreaking research on native pollinators in working forest landscapes. Over the course of his three-month fellowship at Harvard Forest, Rivers will build on his ongoing research of blue orchard bee nesting ecology. His research, which uses experimentally heated nesting structures, aims to better understand how this species responds to human-driven environmental change.

There is a significant shortage of information on insect pollinators in managed forests, and these knowledge gaps have hindered progress in forest pollinator conservation. Current research fails to address the demographic and behavioral factors driving the long-term population decline that have led to growing concerns about the future of insect pollinators.

During the fellowship, Rivers will analyze preliminary data from the existing field-based studies undertaken at the Oregon State University McDonald-Dunn Research Forest. He will also develop new research aimed at understanding how native bees respond to natural and human-caused variation in native forest ecosystems.

Blue orchard bees were chosen because they are native to the United States and a more effective pollinator than honeybees for spring blooming orchard crops. They are also solitary nesting bees, in contrast to the highly social honeybees, and have the potential to provide valuable insights into other solitary species, which make up the majority of wild bee species.

About the Charles Bullard Fellowship: The Fellowship program was established at Harvard University in 1962 to support the advancement of theory and practice in forestry and forest-related subjects. Offering funding for both short- and long-term residential fellowships, the program allows researchers to advance their scientific and professional growth. The fellowship funds are endowed by the estate of Katherine Bullard in memory of her brother, Charles Bullard.

Learn more about Rivers’ pollinator research on the OSU McDonald-Dunn Research Forest at: https://cf.forestry.oregonstate.edu/research/pollinator-study