Project:

The Effect of Water Quality on Lichen Diversity

Students:

Eliza Brewster, Dexter Kalderon

School:

The Masters School, Other

Mentors:

Catharine Boothroyd

Abstract:

In this project, we plan to use DNA barcoding to examine lichen diversity along the Hudson River and correlate this diversity with water pollution. The Hudson River has a vast industrial history that has led to much pollution, specifically from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs; Riverkeeper, 2016). Although many factories were banned from dumping into the river by the late 1970’s, this pollution still negatively affects the Hudson River. We believe that this water pollution, or even the lingering effects, will influence the lichen that we catalog as lichens absorb nutrients directly from their surroundings.

Poster:

Team samples: