Project:

Lichen Biodiversity in Manhattan and Queens

Students:

Noor Moezinia, Riksung Gyaltsen, Kelsey Joyner

School:

The Spence School,

Mentors:

Aruna Chavali

Abstract:

We propose to work with the Urban Barcoding Project to collect lichen DNA and analyze it to determine the trends across varying lichen species. We will be collecting data from Central Park, Black Rock Forest, New Jersey, and Thomas P. Noonan Jr. Playground to identify how the lichen species vary. 10-15 lichen samples will be collected from each borough to confirm if lichen species vary from inhabiting different environments. From collecting data, we aim to distinguish if lichen species differ based on the environment they inhabit.

Poster:

Team samples: