Project:

The Effects of Moisture Levels on Armadillidium vulgare Biodiversity in Central Park

Students:

Noor Wilson, Maya Gwin, Ellen Chan

School:

Marymount School of NY, Manhattan

Mentors:

Anne Kloimwieder

Abstract:

Armadillidium vulgare, more commonly known as roly polys, will be collected from the ground on the eastern side of Central Park on different days to determine the species in 30 samples. We will extract the DNA from these roly polys using the Chelex method. Roly polys will be collected on a dry and wet day to compare the biodiversity roly polys based on the dampness of the environment. We hypothesize that there will be more biodiversity within roly polys on a wet day when compared to a dry day because roly polys need moist environments to live.

Poster:

Team samples: