Barcode Long Island Team The Girls
Program:
Barcode Long Island
Year:
2016-17
Research Topic:
Biodiversity & trade
Taxonomic Group Studied:
Animals: Invertebrate

Project:

The Effect of Invasive Bird Feces on the Invertebrate Biodiversity of Seamans Neck Park in Seaford New York.
Students:
Melanie Cascio, Darah Daskalakis, Gabrielle Moro, Lindsay Pfaff
School:
Seaford High School, Nassau
Mentors:
Janine Cupo

Abstract:

In Seamans Neck Park on Long Island, bird species, such as the Monk Parakeets and Canadian Geese, are present in environments on grass fields. It has been observed that areas with increased numbers of bird droppings have higher levels of phosphate concentrations and other nutrients and have had a positive effect on the growth and vegetation of plants and soil. We hypothesize that the bird droppings will have a positive effect on the soil which will increase the invertebrate biodiversity in the areas with bird droppings as compared to areas without bird droppings. Although the number of different species may increase, the species composition may differ from the areas without invasive birds. We predict that there will be an increase of biodiversity in areas with bird droppings compared to areas without bird droppings.

Poster:

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