Project:

Central Park Fungal Biodiversity

Students:

Evelyn Sargsyan, An Vi Wong, Avalon Zucker

School:

Dwight School, Manhattan

Mentors:

Michael Paul

Abstract:

New York City is known to have a wide range of living organisms that account for the biodiversity examined in this research. There are a variety of species of fungi living in parks throughout the city, especially throughout Central Park. Throughout the park, there are different conditions in which fungus adapts and develops different patterns to evolve. The purpose of the research is to examine the genetic code of fungi in different areas to identify how and in which conditions do these fungi develop. The fungi were collected from different areas in the park, with gloved hands, and stored in a petri dish placed in the freezer. The silica protocol provided by the DNALC laboratory and the ITS primer to isolate the DNA. The results of the research provide insight into the identified fungal species in New York City and how each species developed.

Poster:

Team samples: