Project:

Preliminary Results Suggest that Environmental Pollution is Capable of Driving Biodiversity

Students:

Ashley Hernandez, Alexis Jean - Pierre

School:

Freeport High School, Nassau

Mentors:

Edward Irwin

Abstract:

DNA barcoding has emerged as the primary method of identifying species of plants, animals, invertebrates and fungi. Team Freeport High School’s goal for the DNA Barcode project this year is to collect and identify new species of indigenous terrestrial insects .Using DNA Barcoding, it is hypothesized that the identification of new species can be used as an indication that environmental contamination has direct involvement in altering biodiversity on Long Island. Insects were collected along with soil samples. Soil was analyzed for mercury using atomic absorbance and used as an indicator of environmental pollution. As anticipated, soil samples taken “near” landfills on the north and south shores showed an increased level of mercury concentration. Values ranged between .218 to .371 ug Hg/g compared to the value found in local households that ranged from .032 to .065 ug Hg/g. The environmental Protection Agency set the 5%

Poster:

Team samples: