Project:

Investigating Lichen Biodiversity in Long Island Recharge Basins

Students:

Sean Krivitsky, Thomas Leahy

School:

Lynbrook Senior High School, Nassau

Mentors:

Kathleen McAuley

Abstract:

The purpose of our study was to figure out how recharge basins on Long Island impacted the environment around it. Recharge basins are excavations meant to collect stormwater runoff from nearby areas, and can be found throughout Long Island (Monti, n.d.). Lichens were chosen as indicator species, being used to indicate a change in their surrounding environment. It was hypothesized that there would be a difference in the biodiversity of lichens depending on the proximity to the basin, with there being lower biodiversity recorded as samples were collected closer to the basin. We also plan on analyzing native and invasive species populations, depending on each collection location's environment, and discussing the implications of these factors in lichen biodiversity. Using the DNA samples we’d collect using barcoding would help better understand the impact by comparing the amount of native and invasive species as well as the number of lichen species in general.

Poster:

Team samples: