Project:

Human Effects on the Environment

Students:

James Moran, Ashley Quiambao, Suraj Patel, Isobel Cassandra Martel

School:

Westhampton Beach High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Frank Diehl

Abstract:

The population of organisms in specific environments has been negatively affected by the increase in human development. Maintenance of fields on school grounds require the use of pesticides and herbicides which could potentially harm the surrounding ecosystem. This can be tested by looking at areas of development and comparing areas of human development with areas that have been conserved and observing the organism's population found in the soil. The difference in populations will act as an indication of the ecosystem’s health.Then by using Barcoding, one could identify the organism’s species using its DNA that is unique to its species. This will help in avoiding errors when researching the role of a species. The information found will help in finding the solution to the decreasing health of the environment and restore them to healthy natural environments.

Poster:

Team samples: