Project:

Relationship between Polychaetes and Clams in Bay Ecosystems in terms of Population Density

Students:

Adam Sheren, kaila green, Sydney Profeta, Sofia Brixius

School:

Westhampton Beach High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Dianna Gobler

Abstract:

Our project seeks to understand the relationship between clams and polychaetes in bay environments. We intend to discover as to whether the marine worm population in a region sparsely inhabited with clams will directly or inversely cause the marine worm population to rise, or cause a change in the worm biodiversity. This population can help explain the symbiotic relationship between worms and clams, and help raise awareness if the reduced clam population is leading to a reduced growth rate of marine worm, or shift the in species of worms that are present. SInce both are beneficial organisms to the ecosystem, their abundances are crucial to the water’s health.

Poster:

Team samples: