Project:

Biodiversity of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Forge Pond

Students:

Sean Ennesser, Cole Burstein, Maddox Morace

School:

Eastport South Manor Junior Senior High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Rachel Neville

Abstract:

The Peconic River, including Forge Pond, is an important habitat within Long Island that helps to support a wide range of aquatic ecosystems and organisms. Throughout time, anthropogenic activity such as habitat alteration and pollution has negatively impacted the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates within Forge Pond. Measuring and maintaining biodiversity is vital to understanding the general well being of an ecosystem. We use organisms identified in Forge Pond through DNA barcoding to learn more about and change how anthropogenic activity is affecting biodiversity over time. We collected aquatic invertebrates from the banks of Forge Pond using nets and other sorts of devices. Samples caught were then stored in their own temporary jar and or container and assorted carefully so that no other organism would be harmed. We expect to find many macroinvertebrate species throughout the peconic estuary system, including some species that have not been recently recorded within the area. Th

Poster:

Team samples:

See all samples for project