Project:

Using DNA barcoding to identify mushroom species and evaluate their preference for soil pH in Caumsett State Historic Park Prese

Students:

Suzanne Thatcher, Selma Nuwara

School:

Cold Spring Harbor High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Jaak Raudsepp

Abstract:

Mushrooms play a vital ecological role in ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling, mycorrhizal associations, and decomposition. Soil pH can significantly influence the availability of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and micronutrients (Horlick, 2023). Soil acidity is a major constraint on plant productivity (Kawahara et al, 2016). By clarifying the connection between soil pH and mushroom species, we can better comprehend how fungi contribute to nutrient cycling and recycling in ecosystems. Most mushrooms grow best near a neutral pH. Our goal is to understand how soil pH affects the distribution of mushroom species and whether soil pH varies within species. The complexity of mushrooms begs the question: Does soil pH serve as a selective force shaping the distribution of mushroom species, or is it merely a reflection of the diverse ecosystems in which these species reside? We will be collecting a diverse type of fungi and will be using DNA Barcoding to identify specie

Poster:

Team samples: