Project:

The Effect of Heavy Metal Concentration on Moss Species Biodiversity

Students:

Eliana Chorost, Michael Goneos

School:

Rye Country Day School,

Mentors:

Jennifer Busuttil-Doran

Abstract:

Mosses serve as valuable nonvascular bioindicators of environmental pollution due to their capacity to absorb and accumulate heavy metals from the atmosphere. This study examines the impact of heavy metal concentrations on moss species diversity in urban and suburban areas, specifically focusing on sites in Rye, NY, and Manhattan, NY. By combining DNA barcoding with heavy metal air quality data, this research aims to identify moss species and quantify heavy metal levels in the atmosphere to understand how pollution affects moss diversity, reflecting the overall health of the ecosystem. Sampling involves collecting ten moss specimens from each site, analyzing them for metal concentrations, and identifying them through DNA barcoding.

Poster:

Team samples: