Project:

Metagenomic analysis of biodiversity at the superfund site, Newtown Creek

Students:

Seonga Oh, Jenny Yang

Institution:

St. Francis College, Brooklyn

Mentors:

Alison Dell

Abstract:

Abstract: Designated a Superfund Site by the EPA, Newtown Creek remains one of the most polluted waterways in New York City. The living docks at Newtown Creek were recently installed to create species habitat and foster biodiversity in this recovering ecostystem. The proposed study aims to assess the efficacy of the docks in increasing biodiversity as well as determining if there is a relationship between biodiversity and water quaity at these sites. eDNA from water samples at the living docks as well as a control site will be isolated, amplified, sequenced, and compared to assess the species richness of invertebrate amphipods at each site. Water quality analysis will also be performed from samples taken at each collection site. These studies will test the hypothesis that the docks promote species richness and abundance and that increased biodiversity will correlate with improved water quality at these sites.

Poster:

Team samples: