Project:

Identifying Invasive Species in New York City Fresh Waterways Using eDNA Metabarcoding

Students:

Maytal Chelst, Eliana Samuels, Rebecca Sullivan, Shira Rothbort

School:

Yeshiva University High School for Girls, Queens

Mentors:

Shulamith Biderman

Abstract:

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is often used to identify living species via water, sediment, or air samples, and is consequently analyzed and sequenced to make DNA comparisons and classify natural organisms [1]. The purpose of this project is to look for and identify invasive species in New York City’s fresh waterways via eDNA metabarcoding. Historically Eurasian watermilfoil, water chestnut, curly-leaf pondweed, hydrilla, fanwort, Brazilian elodea, and starry stonewort have been identified as invasive species present in New York City fresh waterways [2], with Snake Head Fish, Red Ear Slider Turtle, English Ivy, and Phragmites as known invasive species in the Golden Pond lakes.

Poster:

Team samples: