Project:

Analyzing biodiversity of moss and its effect on the nutritional composition of soil

Students:

Fabiha Muhsina, Yadhira Ortiz

School:

Manhattan Center for Science and MAthematics, Manhattan

Mentors:

Evelyn Wing

Abstract:

A bewilderment to society, but indeed a lifeblood of plant ecosystems, mosses are non-flowering plants that have branches, leaves, and spores but no real roots. Mosses function ecologically by decomposing exposed materials and releasing nutrients for use by gradually developing more sophisticated plants. Mosses absorb water just like sponges. They aid in retaining moisture in the soil beneath them, absorbing rainfall, and preserving the humidity of the environment. This makes it possible for nearby plants to flourish, such as those in marshes and forests. The goal of this research is to examine the biodiversity of moss and see how it affects the soil's nutrient composition. Moss samples will be extracted from soil samples using a hori hori knife and used in PCR testing for species identification. PCR amplifies a segment of the genome using primers and DNA synthesis. Essential components include Taq polymerase, primers, template DNA, and nucleotides. This information will help evaluate

Poster:

Team samples: