Project:

Barcoding the Long Island Pine Barrens

Students:

Issac Varghese, Liam Halpin

School:

Patchogue-Medford High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Jennifer Gatz

Abstract:

Lichens are well documented biological indicator for air pollution by use of studying the biodiversity of the lichens (Abas). Despite this, work on lichens in the Long Island area, more specifically in the Long Island Central Pine Barrens has gone undocumented as greater attention is placed on other environmental conditions (Shah). In that vein there has not been great consideration on how studying DNA sequences can be utilized in order to compare air pollution levels between Southaven Park and Fish Thicket. Here we attempt to show the differences between Southaven Park and Fish Thicket in their biodiversity and specimen present.

Poster:

Team samples: