Project:

How Can Algae Serve as an Indicator of Water Quarlity

Students:

Jonathan Isakir, William Li

School:

Forest Hills High School, Queens

Mentors:

Lauren Scanlon

Abstract:

The primary goal of this experiment is to survey the biodiversity of algae in different lakes as well as determine the water quality that the algae were found in. If the biodiversity of algae is correlated with water quality, further research can be done on how to utilize algae for better waste water treatment. Our goals are to be able to visit all of the lakes and ponds listed below along with some others in a timely manner, get all the samples that are necessary for the experiment, and complete the research without procrastinating work. Our approach to the experiment will be us travelling across NYC to visit different lakes and ponds. With the DNA barcoding kit, we will be able to take samples of the water from the lakes and ponds and use the barcoding kit to its full effect and figure out what different species of algae are growing in the water sources. We will compile a graph of the biodiversity of the lakes and ponds and see what condition the bodies of water are in, if they are c

Poster:

Team samples: