Project:

A Comparison of MacroAlgae in the Randall's Island Salt Marsh vs. the East River

Students:

Maddie Martinez, Sophia Thompson, Eleanor Chesney

School:

Ethical Culture Fieldston School, The Bronx

Mentors:

Howard Waldman

Abstract:

The purpose of this project is to determine the differences in the macroalgae found in the Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh of Randall's Island and the East River. Macroalgae or seaweeds are macroscopic organisms and they sit at the bottom of the marine food chain and support many communities of herbivorous animals. The Little Hell Gate Salt marsh is rocky and consists of many places for algae to attach to a substratum, making it an excellent habitat for algae to grow. The East River is a saltwater tidal estuary in New York City. We are curious to see if the increased amount of pollution there negatively affects the biodiversity of the species of Macroalgae in the East River. Additionally, we are curious to see if the lack of rocks and faster current would allow fewer macroalgae to grow in the East River. We hypothesize that there will be more species of macroalgae in in the salt marsh due to the increase of rocks to attach to, slow-moving water, and less pollution.

Poster:

Team samples: