Project:

Copepods, Champagne, and Climate Change

Students:

Snika Gupta, Ayah Talha

Institution:

LaGuardia Community College, CUNY, Queens

Mentors:

Thomas Onorato

Abstract:

This project investigates the biodiversity and ecological significance of copepods—microscopic crustaceans naturally present in New York City’s unfiltered tap water and surrounding natural waterways. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, water samples will be collected from municipal sites (homes and schools) and natural sources (Newtown Creek, East River, and Hudson River) using both standard containers and DIY plankton nets. Species identification and biodiversity assessments will be conducted through cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequencing via Nanopore technology, supplemented by live imaging with Planktoscopes. A novel component of this research involves data sonification, converting DNA sequencing "squiggles" into musical barcodes to enhance sequence characterization and comparison. Ultimately, we aim to to better understand how urban cooling strategies and climate change are reshaping aquatic biodiversity, and offer critical insights into the intersection of urban infrast

Poster: