The study by Vaudo, Dyer, and Leonard explores the role of pollen nutrition in shaping interactions between bees and plants in natural communities. Pollen, a critical source of protein and lipids for bees, varies significantly in macronutrient content among plant species. The researchers analyzed pollen nutrition (protein and lipid content) from 109 co-flowering plant species and observed the visitation patterns of 75 subgenera of pollen-collecting bees in the Great Basin/Eastern Sierra region. They found that the similarity in pollen nutrition among co-flowering plant species predicted the similarity in their visitor communities, even when controlling for floral morphology and phylogeny. The study revealed distinct, interconnected groups of bee subgenera and plant genera based on differences in pollen macronutrient values, suggesting potential nutritional niches. Importantly, variation in pollen nutrition alone did not predict the diversity of bee visitors, indicating that plants offering complementary pollen nutrition are equally valuable for supporting bee diversity. The findings highlight the importance of considering nutritional diversity when selecting plants for habitat restoration and conservation efforts, emphasizing the need for a nutritionally explicit perspective in community ecology and pollination studies.The study by Vaudo, Dyer, and Leonard explores the role of pollen nutrition in shaping interactions between bees and plants in natural communities. Pollen, a critical source of protein and lipids for bees, varies significantly in macronutrient content among plant species. The researchers analyzed pollen nutrition (protein and lipid content) from 109 co-flowering plant species and observed the visitation patterns of 75 subgenera of pollen-collecting bees in the Great Basin/Eastern Sierra region. They found that the similarity in pollen nutrition among co-flowering plant species predicted the similarity in their visitor communities, even when controlling for floral morphology and phylogeny. The study revealed distinct, interconnected groups of bee subgenera and plant genera based on differences in pollen macronutrient values, suggesting potential nutritional niches. Importantly, variation in pollen nutrition alone did not predict the diversity of bee visitors, indicating that plants offering complementary pollen nutrition are equally valuable for supporting bee diversity. The findings highlight the importance of considering nutritional diversity when selecting plants for habitat restoration and conservation efforts, emphasizing the need for a nutritionally explicit perspective in community ecology and pollination studies.