Project:

Biodiversity of Trees in Central Park

Students:

Lee Adler, Chelgis Dabashi, Ariadny Morocho, Lily Siegel

School:

FMHS, Manhattan

Mentors:

Dora Miklos

Abstract:

When Central Park first opened, ecological biodiversity was not a factor of its creation. However, as the city went through more and more urban development, it became a haven of biodiversity and an example of what New York City could be without all of the skyscrapers and subways. Central park is home to more than 18,000 trees with 170 different species located throughout the entire park (Sain). These trees remove up to 1 million pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. These trees provide oxygen and recluse from the busy city life. They also help during the heatwaves that we’ve come to know from climate change. The waste that these trees produce is used as fertilizer and compost, bringing life to new plants. The tulip tree, or Liriodendron tulipifera, is the oldest and tallest tree in Central park, which is estimated to be 350 years old.

Poster:

Team samples: