Barcode Long Island Team ExcellANT DNA Barcoders
Program:
Barcode Long Island
Year:
2017-18
Research Topic:
Biodiversity & trade
Taxonomic Group Studied:
Animals: Invertebrate

Project:

The Biodiveristy of Ants in Commack, Long Island,
Students:
Emma Karadenes, Mia Goren
School:
Commack High School, Suffolk
Mentors:
Jeanette Collette

Abstract:

Next to bacteria, ants are the second most densley populated species on the planet with one of largest biomasses of any species. Recently, ants have been used as a model to study disease transmission. They live in highly dense populations, and their environments can be easily manipulated to study how differents factors affect disease transmission using mathematical applications. There problem is there are over 12,000 different species of ants, each with their own unique characteristics that allow them to survive in their ownenvironments. We plan on looking at the diversity of ants in Commack, NY. We aim to identify the ant species native to our area. Another aspect to our study, is determining if the species of ants in our area are the ones known to carry harmful pathogens to humans, like the Pharaoh ant. Certain species of ants, if found in large enough numbers (like an infestation), can carry harmful pathogens and possibly cause harm to an immunocomprised patients.

Poster:

DNA Barcoding Poster
View team poster (PDF/PowerPoint)

Team samples: