Project:

Bloodworms in Cold Spring Harbor affect the biodiversity of the harbor

Students:

Saami Ali, Will Brancato, Luke Roberts

School:

Cold Spring Harbor High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Jaak Raudsepp

Abstract:

The Glycera dibranchiata (Blood Worm) is a part of the Glyceridae family. Bloodworms can be found at the bottom of shallow marine water. The depth of water allows for predators of the bloodworm, such as seagulls and crabs, to hunt them. Bloodworms are carnivorous organisms that “will extend a long proboscis from their heads with venom-bearing jaws for grasping prey,” (National geographic society, 2018). When a blood worn delivers its venom to its prey it is fatal to the organism, however if a blood worm was to bite a human, its pain inflicted would be similar to that of a bee sting (National Geographic society, 2017). The bloodworm is important to the ecosystem in that it provides a food source for many other organisms and so supports biodiversity in the region. Therefore, if this species population size was to change significantly, other wildlife and Cold Spring Harbor biodiversity would be affected by the change. One factor that could lead to these changes in the blood worm popul

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