Project:

Aquatic Invertebrates tested in DNA BNarcoding to test Biodiversity of the Massapequa Preserve

Students:

Anamilena Serrano, Markella D'Angelo, Sophia Gumieniak, Rachel Koplar

School:

Massapequa High School,

Mentors:

August Eberling

Abstract:

Biodiversity, the variety of organisms interacting with each other in an ecosystem, is vital to the environment. In recent years, biodiversity has been declining because of human activities causing a change of climate and habitat for these organisms. The hypothesis is that biodiversity has been majorly affected by urbanization. Using DNA barcoding, in the Massapequa Preserve, the aquatic invertebrate species collected will provide insight on the biodiversity in this environment. Considering the preserve is surrounded by a residential area, the effects of urbanization could be seen in the decreased levels of biodiversity, when compared to historic observations.

Poster:

Team samples: