Project:

DNA Barcoding on the biodiversity of invasive plants found at the outskirts of Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Students:

Tenzin Tseyang, Gulshana Rahman, Kathryn Riviere

School:

High School for Health Professions and Human Services, Manhattan

Mentors:

Virdjinika Paljan Dragic

Abstract:

Plants are essential to our environment and our daily life. Many living things depend on plants for survival. However, there are invasive plants in New York City which alter the ecosystem and harm native plants and its surrounding. It is important to DNA barcode on the plants to look into the biodiversity and investigate any invasive species present in the plants to prevent any danger to the plants and environment. Flushing meadow Corona Park is a very big park with many diverse plants. In our study, we will collect samples of plants from the outskirts of the Flushing Meadow Corona Park to have a higher probability of investigating invasive species and have a more diverse collection of plants and DNA barcodes to find its biodiversity. We will conduct our study by following the methodology provided by the DNA barcoding 101, which is to isolate, amplify DNA and then analyze. By doing this, we will be able to find the biodiversity of the plants and investigate invasive species.

Poster:

Team samples: