Project:

Biodiversity Analysis of the Peconic River Using DNA Barcoding

Students:

Logan Silbert, Alex Silbert

School:

Eastport South Manor Junior-Senior High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Robert Bolen

Abstract:

Barcoding allows us to determine the taxonomy of species along with learning which species in the Peconic River are native or invasive. DNA barcodes can be used for biodiversity studies and the identification of species and immature or larval stages of invertebrates. Firstly, we can compare the DNA sequence to database sequences to see if a sample is a certain species. Second, this process can uncover novel species or DNA sequences. Biodiversity is important for the environment; biodiversity means greater stability for an ecosystem because if one species dies there are still other species to take over its niche. We are planning to measure the biodiversity and compare species diversity observed this year to that of years prior. We plan to compare the species that were found and see which species are invasive and if the biodiversity has changed over the past few years. We are collecting the species that are found in the Peconic river to better study the biodiversity of the Peconic. We co

Poster:

Team samples: