Project:

The Effect of Humid Locations on the Biodiversity of Beetles

Students:

Joshua Schneider, Aydin Jaikaran

School:

Lynbrook Senior High School, Nassau

Mentors:

Kathleen McAuley

Abstract:

Beetles are common amongst the environment, being useful by returning nutrients from decaying organisms back into the soil. They also can be pests, damaging properties. Long Island is not an exception, and beetles are common amongst many Long Island towns. We want to see where these beetles are coming from, to identify beetle species in two Long Island habitats and assess their potential for property damage. We will be collecting beetles from one relatively humid environment, and one very humid environment using a food and sticky-mat trap method. Then their DNA will be barcoded and compared to databases to see if the species is linked with pest-like behaviors. Barcoding will help identify these pests, trace their origins, and monitor their spread, so controlling them can be easier and properties can suffer less damage.

Team samples:

See all samples for project