Project:

DNA Barcoding: Collecting, extracting and sequencing mosquito Aedes atlanticus and Aedes tormentor for species identification in

Students:

Ashley Gil, Gabriella Valente, Nicole Olszewski

School:

West Babylon Senior High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Andrea Durbin

Abstract:

Long island inhabits a diverse range of fifty mosquito species. Common mosquito species include the Culex pipiens, Aedes albopictus, Aedes atlanticus and Aedes tormentor. Aedes atlanticus and Aedes tormentor are particularly notable for the similitude of their appearance. This similarity derives from both being close cousins (Wikipedia contributors, 2024).These two species’ indistinguishable physical characteristics make their recognition difficult using traditional identification methods. Their differentiation can be observed using novel DNA sequence data that distinguishes the species based on size polymorphisms using a restrictive enzyme assay (Sither et al., 2013b). Both of these species are primarily found in woodland habitats and coastal regions and have been expanding into inland areas as the climate temperature rises (Aedes Atlanticus, n.d.). As global temperature increases, these species are augmentatively shifting toward cooler regions where they are able to thrive. This cr

Poster:

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