Project:

Assessment of Invertebrate Biodiversity in Polluted and Pristine LI Grasslands Using Barcoding & Analysis of COI Marker

Students:

Katrina Giambertone, Jay Madhukar Patel

School:

Dolan DNA Learning Center, Suffolk

Mentors:

Katrina Giambertone

Abstract:

This study investigates the relationship between pollution and invertebrate biodiversity in Long Island grassland habitats using DNA barcoding and the COI genetic marker. Pitfall traps were set up in two locations: a construction site with pollutants and an undisturbed woodsy grassland area. DNA was extracted from these invertebrates, and the COI region was amplified and sequenced to identify the species and calculate biodiversity metrics such as species richness and the Shannon Index. Results indicated that biodiversity at the undisturbed site was higher, supporting the hypothesis that pollution has a negative relationship with invertebrate biodiversity.

Poster:

Team samples: