Barcode Long Island Team Amazingly Marvelous Microbes in Arachnids
Program:
Barcode Long Island
Year:
2018-19
Research Topic:
Biodiversity & trade
Taxonomic Group Studied:
Animals: Invertebrate

Project:

A Study of Correlation Between Abdominal Microbial Communities in Spiders and Abdominal Heavy Metal Presence
Students:
Brianne Maher, Kyle LaSpisa
School:
William Floyd High School, Suffolk
Mentors:
Victoria D'Ambrosia

Abstract:

As microbial communities within arachnids are compared to heavy metal concentrations, information about environmental conditions from which samples were collected will be revealed. These environmental conditions may prompt further investigations of specific environments as the correlation between heavy metals present in arachnid abdomen and microbiota present in arachnid abdomen are examined. Samples will be collected using transects and quadrats. Microbial communities will then be determined using 16S rDNA. ICP-MS will be used to detect heavy metals. It is expected that arachnids with similar heavy metals will have similar microbial communities present and can then be grouped together when data is displayed.

Poster:

Team samples: