Project:

The effect of car pollution on the biodiversity of beetles

Students:

Katie Murray, Uma Khurrum, Kira Diament

School:

Roslyn High School, Nassau

Mentors:

Vincent Kreyling

Abstract:

Beetles are the most common type of insect. Differing from other insects, beetles’ first pair of wings are hardened and thickened, which protect their fragile flying wings underneath. Beetles are helpful to humans and the environment- they are important decomposers, especially in forests. They are also predators, and reduce populations of many problem insects. We will be looking at the beetle biodiversity in two different environments with varying levels of car pollution. The experiment will identify the different types of beetles found in environments with higher amounts of car pollution (near main roads) and compare them to beetles found in environments with lower amounts of car pollution (away from main roads). We will look into characteristics of beetles found in each environment to see if they have similar characteristic relationships and if there are differences including adaptations to withstand toxic air pollutants. Finally, we will use equipment from a foot locker borrowed f

Poster:

Team samples: