Project:

The Effect of Vegetation on the Biodiversity of Leeches in a Pond

Students:

Olivia Pesso, Ariel Greenberg, Emma Turley

School:

Shoreham-Wading River High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Dana Schaefer

Abstract:

Leech biodiversity is impacted by vegetation in a natural pond environment. The goal for this project is to determine whether vegetation increases, or decreases leech biodiversity in our school’s pond. We have concluded that the side of our pond that is most vegetated is the North side of the pond. The North side of the pond has a higher abundance of leaf litter which is also affected by vegetation. We expect a greater diversity in more highly vegetated areas of our pond.

Poster:

Team samples: