Project:

Effect of Human Waste Sites on the Biodiversity of Ants

Students:

Kevin Gierloff, Jaden McKay

School:

Connetquot HS,

Mentors:

John Halloran

Abstract:

For this experiment we will be seeing how different types of human waste facilities affect the biodiversity of ants. We will go to different waste spots like the brookhaven dump, Patchogue sewage treatment, macarthur airport composting facility, and Connetquot state park (Control). Our hypothesis is that these places would negatively impact the ants; the odor pollution produced by these sites would affect the way the ants communicate, and these sites would affect the ants’ habitat and food sources. It has been shown that odor can affect the ants movement, and possibly their nervousness and stress level, even their behavior. our collection would be to use different types of baits for the traps (like sugars, fats etc). To get an even better sample, we will hand search and use methods like leaf sifting.

Poster:

Team samples: