Auburn University

Honey Bees (apis Mellifera; Here Referred as Bees), Essential for Pollinating Over 90 Crucial Crops,have Been Declining Due to Various Factors Including Environmental Pollutants. This Studyinvestigates the Impact of Exposure of Bees to Antimicrobial Pollution (antimicrobial Resistance[amr] and Antimicrobial Residues) From Poultry Production on Bee Health Through Controlled Andfield Experiments.our Preliminary Results Indicate That Fertilizing Crops With Poultry Litter Significantly Elevates Amrgenes and Causes Dysbiosis in Bees; and Exposure to Low Levels of Antimicrobials Found in the Fieldincreases Mortality Rates. We Hypothesize That Bees Are Exposed to Antimicrobial Pollution Viacontaminated Soil and Plants, Potentially Leading to Dysbiosis and Increased Pathogen Outgrowth.we Will Examine the Effects of Using Poultry Litter as Fertilizer Versus Controls on Antimicrobialresidues, Microbial and Amr Abundance, and Pathogen Prevalence in Soil, Plants, and Bees.additionally, We Will Investigate If Dysbiosis and Amr Persist Across Three Generations of Beesafter Removal From Polluted Environments.field Experiments Will Assess the Impact of Proximity to Poultry Concentrated Animal Feedingoperations (CAFOS) on Bee Health, Predicting Higher Disease Prevalence and Amr in Colonies Nearcafos Compared to Those Farther Away. Elevated Antimicrobial Residues Are Expected in Soil, Water,and Pollen Near Cafos, Correlating With Increased Amr in Bees, Dysbiosis, and Higher Mortalityrates. Apiaries Farther From Cafos and Near Diverse Plant Biomass Will Show Better Overall Health.these Findings Will Inform Development of Strategies to Mitigate Pollutant Exposure and Supportagricultural Practices That Protect Pollinator Health.