Project:

Biodiversity assessment of local beetle species using DNA barcoding and iNaturalist indetification

Students:

Susanna Connelly, Sophia Romano

School:

The Ursuline School, Other

Mentors:

Oxana Litvine

Abstract:

Biodiversity Assessment of Local Beetle Species Using DNA Barcoding and iNaturalist Identification By: Susanna Connelly and Sophia Romano Abstract This project will focus on identifying the species of beetles using DNA barcoding and iNaturalist identifications. Using our findings, we will evaluate the biodiversity of beetles of the Farmingdale State College Campus in Farmingdale, NY and then determine how these beetles affect environmental conditions, as well as. These specimens were initially collected in 2022 and were stored in ethanol. Photos of each specimen will be taken and submitted to iNaturalist for expert identification. We then plan to isolate DNA using Chelex DNA isolation, amplify DNA with PCR, and visualize PCR products using gel electrophoresis. We will send our DNA samples for sequencing to the company Azenta in NJ. Sequence data will be analyzed using DNA subway, BLAST and BOLD to determine species of a beetle. The results of our research project will contribute to the

Poster: