** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** RELEVANCE TO AFRI PRIORITIES: COMMUNITY GARDENS ARE A WAY TO BRING FRESH PRODUCE INTO LOW-INCOME URBAN AREAS, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS 'FOOD DESERTS' DUE TO THEIR LIMITED ACCESS TO FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. HOWEVER, IT IS UNCLEAR IF DIFFERENT ECOLOGICAL CONTEXTS SURROUNDING COMMUNITY GARDENS IMPACT CROP YIELD BY ALTERING THE QUALITY OF ARTHROPOD BIODIVERSITY-MEDIATED ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AT A SITE. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN A CORRELATION BETWEEN BIODIVERSITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD INCOME, BUT IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL MECHANISMS MAY DRIVE CHANGES IN ARTHROPOD COMMUNITY COMPOSITION. THIS STUDY AIMS TO ADDRESS TWO KEY QUESTIONS:(Q1) ARE THERE VARIATIONS IN BIODIVERSITY-MEDIATED ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN COMMUNITY GARDEN SITES DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN ARTHROPOD COMMUNITY COMPOSITION?(Q2) WHAT URBAN MATRIX LANDSCAPE AND SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS INFLUENCE THESE VARIATIONS?THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM THIS PROJECT WILL HELP TO IDENTIFY THE FEATURES OF URBAN AGROECOSYSTEMS MOST AT RISK OF INSUFFICIENT ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND REDUCED CROP YIELD. THIS KNOWLEDGE IS IMPORTANT FOR ACHIEVING THE FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH PROGRAM AREA GOALS OF PROVIDING SAFE, HIGH QUALITY, AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS [THAT] ARE ESSENTIAL FOR HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.RELEVANCE TO PREDOCTORAL PROGRAM: TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED PROJECT, I WILL PARTNER WITH THE DENVER URBAN GARDEN COLLECTIVE IN DENVER, CO, AND UTILIZE THE RESEARCH FACILITIES AND ENTOMOLOGICAL RESOURCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, I WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE EXPERTISE AND SKILLS NEEDED FOR A CAREER AS AN ACADEMIC RESEARCHER FOCUSING ON APPLIED ECOLOGY.