At a glance:

• 180 students
• 19 mentors
• 15 schools

55 DNA barcoding projects:

• 44% plants
• 27% invertebrates
• 16% fungi
• 9% bacteria
• 2% lichen

DNA Barcoding, oh the places you'll go!

Stephen E. Harris, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Purchase College, SUNY

Hillary Xie and Wendy Guo

The Effect of Invasive Stiltgrass on Biodiversity of Ground-Level Plant Species in Northern NJ Forests

Wendy Guo and Hillary Xie, Tenafly High School
Mentored by Anat Firnberg, Tenafly High School

Japanese Stiltgrass reduces biodiversity of ground-level plant species due to its smothering growth and potentially negative effects on soil composition. We studied its effects on local ecosystems by examining plant-life and soil composition in both stiltgrass-infested and control, or stiltgrass-free areas. We collected soil and plant tissue samples from various plots in forested areas. Infested plots hosted lower biodiversity in terms of species richness and relative abundance. We conclude that Japanese Stiltgrass reduced biodiversity drastically and dominated the forest floor by amassing in dense patches, leaving little room for competitor species. Stiltgrass outcompetes less resilient native species and destabilizes the ecosystem, disrupting normal ecological function. Our soil tests have indicated that Stiltgrass growth raises phosphorus levels but does not affect soil composition significantly otherwise.

At a glance:

• 124 students
• 20 mentors
• 18 schools

45 DNA barcoding projects:

• 42% plants
• 33% invertebrates
• 18% lichen
• 7% fungi

Autocatalytic Mutualisms and the Evolution of Biological Systems

David Kizirian, Ph.D.
Curatorial Associate, Department of Herpetology, Division of Vertebrate Zoology American Museum of Natural History

Nikhil Jathavedam and Justin Byun

Biodiversity of Fungi in Northern New Jersey

Justin Byun and Nikhil Jathavedam, Tenafly High School
Mentored by Anat Firnberg, Tenafly High School

The fungi kingdom acts as decomposers, using enzymes to break down organic materials, and as networkers of nutrients, spreading wide networks called mycelium that interacts with plant roots forming symbiotic relationships. The study identified the species of fungi and estimate fungi density in Northern New Jersey that have implications for preserving forest habitats in rapidly changing environments due to pollutants. Results from soil testing revealed that pH soil levels were predominantly acidic to neutral, and the nitrogen and phosphorus levels were adequate to surplus. DNA analysis and density calculations revealed high fungal biodiversity in forests and low amounts of fruiting bodies. The numerous species of fungi in Northern New Jersey harbor an advantageous environment for the growth of plants that are essential for the health of forest habitats.

At a glance:

• 104 students
• 18 mentors
• 15 high schools

37 DNA barcoding projects:

• 59% animals
• 38% plants
• 3% lichen

Disturbed and Diverse: NYC microbial communities have elevated levels of biodiversity

Theodore Muth, Ph.D.
Professor, CUNY Brooklyn College

Eileen Zheng and Veronica Ng

Performing Barcoding and Soil Analysis to Investigate Ecosystem Resilience in Different Flood Zones of Brooklyn, NY

Veronica Ng and Eileen Zheng, Brooklyn Technical High School
Mentored by Michael Estrella and Risa Parlo, Brooklyn Technical High School

With climate change and rising sea levels, regions near the coast, including south Brooklyn, are exposed to massive flooding and intense precipitation. Previous research discovered flooding shifts species distribution and soil acidity and salt concentrations increase while potassium (K), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels decrease. We therefore predicted a trend in the evacuation zones that would go from low pH-high salt-low nutrient in more flood prone areas to high pH-low salt-high nutrient in less flood prone areas. Thus, areas more susceptible to flooding would have greater salt-tolerant species. Surprisingly, after DNA barcoding and performing soil analyses on samples collected from every zone, we found no such correlation between the evacuation zone and pH, salt concentration, and nutrient levels. Ultimately, investigating if there is a correlation between evacuation zones and the prevalence of different species will hopefully assist in guiding solutions to weathering climate change and protecting biodiversity.

At a glance:

• 33 participating teams
• 96 students
• 16 mentors

Understanding, deconstructing and rebuilding microbiomes to make a better world

Javier A. Izquierdo, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology, Hofstra University

At a glance:

• 27 participating teams
• 116 students
• 12 mentors

How I became a rainforest explorer: Ant genomes to microbiomes

Corrie S. Moreau, Ph.D.

Moser Professor of Arthropod Biosystematics and Biodiversity and curator of the Cornell University Insect Collection (CUIC)

At a glance:

• 41 participating teams
• 119 students
• 17 mentors
• 12 high schools and 1 academic institution

Taxonomic group studied:

• 59% animals
• 29% plants
• 7% eDNA
• 2% lichen
• 2% fungi

Students collected 600+ samples—an average of 15 samples per team—that generated over 630 sequences.

Wild Microbes

Claudia Wultsch, Ph.D.

Hunter College, City University of New York
Sackler Lab of Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History
Jaguar Program, Panthera

Katya Naphtali

Investigating the Origins of Invasive Earthworms in the Soil of Public, Private, Residential, and Commercial Areas of Greenpoint

Katya Naphtali, Institute for Collaborative Education, Manhattan
Mentored by TR Muth, Brooklyn College

Earthworms species diversity indicates pollution levels and abundance indicates disruption of soil structure. The student utilized earthworms as bioindicators in public and private locations in Greenpoint, Brooklyn to observe the functionality of the soil and need for bioremediation. More than 30 earthworms from 12 sites were collected, identified taxonomically, and identified genetically through DNA Barcoding. The abundance data demonstrates no significant difference between public and private locations. Based on DNA sequencing, the diversity is higher in private locations than public locations, indicating that they are less disturbed.

At a glance:

• 54 participating teams
• 160 students
• 22 mentors
• 19 high schools

Taxonomic group studied:

• 54% animals
• 38% plants
• 4% fungi
• 4% other

Students collected 820+ samples—an average of 15 samples per team—that generated over 700 sequences.

An Ecosystem in a Drop of Water: Molecular Approaches to Surveying Aquatic Biodiversity in Urban Habitats.

Elizabeth Alter, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Marine Evolutionary & Ecological Genetics
York College and The Graduate Center, CUNY

Garrett Friedman, Leo Satlof, and Spencer O’Flanagan

Snail Diversity in Van Cortlandt Park

Garrett Friedman, Leo Satlof, and Spencer O'Flanagan.
Mentored by Anne Kloimwieder, Ethical Culture Fieldston School

The winning team examined the relationship between water quality at various locations of Van Cortlandt Park and the species of snail present. Students collected more than 30 snails from three separate locations within the park and identified 6 different species through DNA barcoding. At each collection, site water quality measurements were recorded, as high fertilizer runoff and pollution affect the species that reside in the water. Results indicate that all locations investigated contained many more pollution-resistant lunged snails than pollution-sensitive gilled snails.

At a glance:

• 43 participating teams
• 139 students
• 21 mentors
• 18 high schools

Taxonomic group studied:

• 56% plants
• 21% animals
• 14% other
• 9% microbes

Students collected 570+ samples—an average of 13 samples per team—that generated over 900 sequences.

Some Adventures in Urban Barcoding

Jesse H. Ausubel

Director, Program for the Human Environment
The Rockefeller University

Allison Granberry, Jesus Bailon, Julia Martino, Nathalee Almonte, and Damon P. Little.

Barcoding Roots to Identify Biodiversity at the Margin of a Small Urban Forest

Nathalee Almonte, Julia Martino, and Jesus Bailon, Hostos-Lincoln Academy.
Mentored by Allison Granberry, Hostos-Lincoln Academy, and Damon P. Little, New York Botanical Garden.

The winning team studied the biodiversity of a small urban forest, the Thain Family Forest in the Bronx, New York, by DNA barcoding individual roots found in soil samples. The results were compared to an “above ground” morphological data bank in order to determine if below ground plant material could characterize the above ground ecosystem. Results show that while five plant species were reliably identified, DNA barcoding roots did not resolve several other samples to the species level. More than one fourth of the species collected were an invasive species, the Eurasisan native Poa annua.

At a glance:

• 57 participating teams
• 172 students
• 27 mentors
• 22 high schools

Taxonomic group studied:

• 44% plants
• 37% animals
• 10.5% algae
• 7% fungi
• 1.5% other

Students submitted 850+ samples for sequencing—an average of 15 samples/team —that generated over 1200+ sequences.

At a glance:

• 50 participating teams
• 170 students
• 29 mentors
• 22 high schools, 14 public and 8 private

Taxonomic group studied:

• 62% plants
• 29% animals
• 7% microbes
• 2% fungi

Students submitted 700+ samples for sequencing—an average of 14 samples/team —that generated over 900+ sequences.

• Welcome:
  [00:00:00]
• Award Ceremony Remarks:
  [00:03:30] Keynote – Susan Perkins, Ph.D.
• Finalist Presentations:
  [00:45:00] Proof of Panax
  [00:55:40] Fish Fraud in NYC
  [01:07:00] In Search of Invasive Plants
  [01:18:45] Bacteria in NY Water Sources
  [01:31:00] Smartphone Bacterial Microbiomes
  [01:41:20] The Impacts on a Marine Ecosystem
  [01:53:30] Macroinvertebrate Bioindicators

Judges:

• Susan Perkins, Ph.D.
  Curator and Professor, Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics and Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History
• Ana Fernandez-Sesma, Ph.D.
  Associate Professor of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Shreya Shah
  Educator and Microbiologist, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

At a glance:

• 38 participating teams
• 120 students from 26 high schools
• 22 mentors from 19 institutions

Taxonomic group studied:

• 47% plants
• 48% animals
• 5% fungi

Students submitted 500+ samples—an average of 13 samples/team —that generated over 800+ sequences.

• Welcome:
  [00:00:00] Welcome
  [00:03:00] Diversity of Ants in Park
  
• Award Ceremony Remarks:
  [00:07:05] Keynote – Mark Stoeckle, Ph.D.
• Finalist Presentations:
  [00:25:45] Hot Dogs: The Animal Inside
  [00:37:30] Seahorses
  [00:51:20] What's in Your Cup of Coffee
  [01:06:20] Meat Industry Mislabeling
  [01:17:05] Ethnic Market Sausage Mislabeling
  [01:27:25] Halal Cart Meat Legitimacy<

Judges:

• Mark Stoeckle, Ph.D.
  Senior Research Associate, Program for the Human Environment, The Rockefeller University
• Cristina Trowbridge
  Senior Manager of Professional Development, American Museum of Natural History
• David Kizirian, Ph.D.
  Curatorial Associate, American Museum of Natural History

• 41 teams competing
• 113 students from 19 high schools
• 20 mentors from 14 institutions

• 54% animals
• 41% plants
• 5% fungi

More than 1,100 sequences, from approximately 600 samples. 15 samples per team on average

• Welcome:
  [00:00:00] David Micklos
• Award Ceremony Remarks:
  [00:06:40] Keynote – George Amato, Ph.D.
• Finalist Presentations:
  [00:30:20] Birds Nest Soup
  [00:42:50] Barcoding Snapping Turtles
  [00:55:00] Allergy Causing Plants
  [01:06:25] Pipefish in New York
  [01:17:15] Ant Biodiversity
  [01:28:50] Terrestrial Plant Bio-Indicators

Judges:

• George Amato, Ph.D.
  Director, Sackler Institute of Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History
• David Micklos
  Executive Director, DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
• Susan Perkins, Ph.D.
  Curator, American Museum of Natural History

At a glance:

• 75 teams competing
• 218 students from 31 high schools, 23 public and 8 private
• 38 mentors from 29 institutions

Taxonomic group studied:

• 56% animals
• 36% plants
• 7% fungi
• 1% multiorganisms

More than 2,500 sequences, from approximately 1,000 samples. 15 samples per team on average

Rob DeSalle, Ph.D.

Curator, American Museum of Natural History

Rob DeSalle welcomes the student finalists and congratulates them on the importance of their projects to wildlife conservation.

Jesse H. Ausubel

Vice President, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Jesse H. Ausubel describes the history of DNA barcoding and congratulates the student teams on the diversity of their projects.

Bruce W. Stillman, Ph.D.

President, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Bruce W. Stillman describes the history of the DNA Learning Center, and the unique experience provided by the Urban Barcode Project