Project:

Tracking Long Island Local Sharks with DNA Analysis

Students:

Mirian Pinol, Casey Farrell, Jackson Caputo, Olivia Beardslee

School:

Westhampton Beach High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Dianna Gobler

Abstract:

Long Island’s coastal waters host a diverse array of marine life, including several shark species essential to maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems. However, many of these sharks—such as the Smooth Dogfish, Sand Tiger Shark, Sandbar Shark, and Spiny Dogfish—are threatened by overfishing, pollution, ocean warming, and habitat degradation. This research aims to identify where these species are most commonly found and determine which areas require ecological restoration to support their survival. Using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and DNA barcoding of the COI gene, sharks can be identified, even when traditional visual identification is challenging. This non-invasive approach allows researchers to monitor shark presence and migration patterns on Long Island.

Team samples:

See all samples for project