Project:

Assessment of DNA Diversity Among Multiple Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Found in the Massapequa Preserve

Students:

Sophia Gentile, Gregory Murano, Michael Ehrhart, Jake Danese

School:

Massapequa High School Ames, Nassau

Mentors:

August Eberling

Abstract:

Biodiversity plays a very important role in maintaining the stability, health, and productivity of Earth's ecosystems. Biodiversity is one of the main reasons why ecosystems can be resilient enough to survive extreme events like natural disasters or disease which may lower the population of species. Assessing genetic biodiversity across numerous species from the same habitat provides motivation to carry out this project. Analysis of DNA from a diverse group of aquatic macroinvertebrates from the Massapequa Preserve is valuable in order to achieve this goal. The project entails collecting samples of organisms collected from under rocks, on branches, in the water, and on aquatic plants. DNA from the organisms will be extracted and analyzed using DNA barcoding and Sanger sequencing.

Poster:

Team samples:

See all samples for project