Project:

Identification of Zooxanthellae

Students:

Natalie Chinchilla, Lauren Breaton

School:

Walt Whitman Highschool, Suffolk

Mentors:

fred feraco

Abstract:

The specific aim of this project is to identify different types of zooxanthellae under a microscope and by DNA barcoding. Different corals could have different needs so maybe treating every type of zooxanthellae the same is not effective because of this. What if there are more types of zooxanthellae than just Symbiodinium trenchi, Cryptomonas, and Chrysidella. Or maybe those are all the types or zooxanthellae that live in corals but how could we help them. So what if the different zooxanthellae need more of a modification than another type of zooxanthellae. This could help the understanding of coral health more than existing knowledge. The main importance of this project is to be able to help specific corals with specific needs get the specific care that is catered to them. In view of the fact that corals die at a rapid rate

Poster:

Team samples: