** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THROUGHOUT THE US HONEY BEE DECLINE IS ON THE RISE DUE TO A VARIETY OF REASONSINCLUDING PARASITES, PATHOGENS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE THIS DECLINE, WEWILL HAVE TO RELY ON NATIVE POLLINATORS TO MEET THE GROWING FOOD DEMANDS. CURRENTLY MOST STUDIESLOOK AT THE RISK IN AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD SETTING AS RELATED TO HONEY BEES, HOWEVER THIS STUDY AIMSTO INVESTIGATE HOW THE NATIVE BEE POPULATIONS MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY CURRENT AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES.THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY USING PUMPKINS AS A MODEL SYSTEM AS PUMPKINS REQUIRE POLLINATORSFOR FRUIT SET AND HAVE A NATIVE GROUND-NESTING SPECIALIST BEE, KNOWN AS THE SQUASH BEE. THE GOALOF THIS RESEARCH IS TO UNDERSTAND CURRENT AREAS OF RISK PRESENT FOR THE BEES IN THE FIELD TO MAKE AMORE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY PRACTICES. USING 2RESEARCH OBJECTIVES (1) CHARACTERIZING PLANT PATHOGENS, BEE VIRUSES, AND PESTICIDE RESIDUESPRESENT IN THE SOIL AND PLANT TISSUES THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF RISK TOPOLLINATORS PRESENT WITHIN THE FIELD AND (2) EXAMINING SQUASH BEES FOR PLANT VIRUSES, BEE VIRUSES,AND PESTICIDE RESIDUES WHILE EMPLOYING TECHNIQUES TO ANALYZE PESTICIDE PRESENCE AND CHANGE INDISEASE LEVELS AND BEE GUT MICROBIOME THROUGH ANALYSIS OF BACTERIAL (16S) AND FUNGAL (ITS)COMMUNITIES. THE PROPOSED WORK WILL PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO AREAS OF RISK UNDERCURRENTMANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CAN LEAD TO MORE SUSTAINABLE POLLINATOR PRACTICES. FURTHERMORE, THISPROJECT CAN SERVE AS A STARTING POINT FOR OTHER RESEARCH AS WE EXPLORE AREAS OF RISK MANAGEMENTFOR A VARIETY OF VALUABLE POLLINATORS TO SUSTAIN OUR FOOD RESOURCES.