Urban Barcode Research Project Team Ant Girls
Program:
Urban Barcode Research Project
Year:
2021-22
Research Topic:
Wildlife
Taxonomic Group Studied:
Animals: Invertebrate

Project:

Assessing Ant Biodiversity and Presence of Invasive Species in Public Parks of Queens, NYC
Students:
Ava Aimable, Jingyu Chen, Vanshika Kohli
Institution:
St John's University, Queens
Mentors:
Natalia Biani

Abstract:

Ants are one of the most diverse groups of animals with over 13,000 named species around the world, and they perform critical and astounding roles in ecosystems, such as mixing and aerating soils, preying on pests, and dispersing seeds. Their interactions with abiotic and biotic factors are vital to the sustainability of life. The purpose of our project is to identify the species composition of the ant community in several city parks of Queens, NY. Currently, most of the known ant diversity in NYC comes from dubious websites of exterminator companies. Our team will explore the Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Baisley Pond Park, Elmhurst Park, and Roy Wilkins Park. We will use the DNA barcoding technique to determine the identity of the specimens and the presence/absence of invasive species.

Poster:

DNA Barcoding Poster
View team poster (PDF/PowerPoint)

Team samples: