Project:

Observing Organisms in teh Massapequa Preserve using DNA Barcoding

Students:

Madison Chaplar, Ava Comiskey, Brooke McGovern, Emily Fitzgerald

School:

Massapequa Ames High School, Nassau

Mentors:

August Eberling

Abstract:

The objective is to analyze the biodiversity of the specimens being collected. Using DNA barcoding specimen sequence will be compared against GeneBank samples. The samples were collected at Massapequa Preserve. It’s a temperate deciduous forest with a freshwater pond and creek. Over the course of 6 years students from Massapequa High School have been returning to the same river/lake where the samples were collected. It is also observable to see if there were any new species that came to the preserve. By returning to the same point on the river it can be studied how species grow and change over time. Biodiversity patterns at local scale also require information on regional and historical drivers which can be completed with the use of DNA barcoding.

Poster:

Team samples: