Project:

The Effect of Human Impact on the Biodiversity of Spiders

Students:

Alexander Samiluilov, Thomas Amalfitano

School:

Rocky Point High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Nancy Hunter

Abstract:

An estimated 80% of spiders are still undescribed, and the effect of human impact on spider biodiversity is not well understood. Spiders will be collected from 3 locations in Rocky Point, New York: indoors, outdoor yards, and outdoor forest habitat. Spiders will be identified using taxonomic keys. Six or seven specimens from each location will be prepared for DNA barcoding of the COI gene. It is hypothesized that the spiders indoors will show less genetic biodiversity than those from the outdoor locations, and that those in the forested habitat will show the most biodiversity.

Poster:

Team samples: