Project:

Investigation of biodiversity of marine invertebrate animals and estuary health in City Island, NY

Students:

Abigail Callahan, Stella Caplan, Victoria DiMuro

School:

The Ursuline School, Other

Mentors:

Oxana Litvine

Abstract:

This study aims to assess the biodiversity of marine invertebrates and overall estuary health at City Island, New York—a critical site within the Long Island Sound ecosystem. Marine invertebrates such as oysters, crabs, mollusks, and snails will be sampled using quadrat and transect methods across sandy, grassy, and rocky habitats. Collected specimens will be identified through field guides, iNaturalist, and DNA barcoding using redesigned Folmer COI primers (jgLCO1490/jgHCO2198) optimized for marine taxa. Water quality parameters—including pH, nitrates, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature—will be periodically measured to evaluate estuarine stability. Biodiversity will be quantified using Simpson’s Diversity Index to compare community structure across habitats and track temporal trends. The project seeks to build a multi-year dataset linking species richness and genetic diversity to environmental conditions, providing valuable insight into local estuary resilience and ec

Poster: