Project:

Identification of native and invasive tube, potter, mason and mud dauber wasps in Brooklyn

Students:

Marlowe Levine, Mina Sagar

Institution:

New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn

Mentors:

jeremy seto

Abstract:

Invasive species shape urban ecosystems, yet their effects on native insect communities remain underexplored. In this project, we examine the biodiversity and distribution of potter, tube, and mud-daubing wasps in Brooklyn to better understand how native and non-native hymenoptera interact and affect the ecosystems in urban environments. Approximately 50 wasp specimens were collected from a range of urban habitats, including community gardens, street tree beds, parks, and playgrounds. Species were identified using DNA barcoding with sequences compared to reference databases and iNaturalist observations. Phylogenetic and geographic analyses were used to evaluate species relatedness and distribution across sites. Species composition was compared across habitats to assess whether factors such as habitat fragmentation, nesting resources, and human disturbance influence biodiversity patterns. This research contributes to understanding how urbanization affects hymenoptera diversity and wheth

Poster: