Project:

The Impact of Central Park and Black Rock Forest on the Biodiversity of Ants

Students:

Chloe Toublan, Madeline Koenig, Remington Eliasek

School:

The Spence School, Manhattan

Mentors:

Aruna Chavali

Abstract:

This research project is centered around understanding the impacts of biodiversity and the environment on ant populations through sample analysis and collection from two ecologically distinct locations: Central Park, a highly urbanized area, and Black Rock Forest, a preserved natural environment. The primary aim of this project is to assess the different ant species and utilize the samples' diversity to conclude each location's biodiversity. Reviewing the DNA barcode of each ant will allow for genetic identification, as all ant species have distinct traits and characteristics that will appear in the code. Examining the number and variety of species found allows for conclusions about the biodiverse population of one location compared to the other to be made. The presence of a single species indicates either a dominant species or a reduced biodiversity.

Poster:

Team samples: