Project:

Assessment of Oyster Populations as Indicators of Water Quality in NYC

Students:

Sofia Aita, Lee Adler, Julieth Guzhnay

School:

FMHS, Manhattan

Mentors:

Dora Miklos

Abstract:

New York City’s waters have experienced significant ecological challenges, from overfishing to pollution, but recent restoration efforts have led to improvements in water quality and biodiversity. This study investigates oysters as biological indicators of ecosystem health and their role in water filtration and erosion prevention. We collected oyster samples from cage sites around the city in the New York Harbor and will use DNA barcoding with PCR and gel electrophoresis to identify species out findings aim to assess the role of oysters in ecological recovery and demonstrate the effectiveness of DNA barcoding for species identification in urban aquatic environments.

Poster:

Team samples: