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The Effect of Phragmites on Cattail Populations Grace Sullivan, Kyleigh Watson and Olivia Zukowski ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the biodiversity of Typha ecosystems to that of the ecosystems of Phragmites australis. The common reed is known to disturb the stability of the ecosystem as they wipe out species of cattail. We collected samples from the Tackapusha Park located in Seaford, NY. The park contains both cattails and common reed, and gave us a clear understanding of the effect that the common reed possesses. The reason that we collected all of our samples from only this preserve is because we wanted the environments of the ecosystems to be as similar as possible, and that the only variable being tested is the biodiversity. We accumulated abiotic samples including temperature, salinity of water, and soil composition. We also obtained biotic samples, which will consist of the plant life that lives in these ecosystems. The results we found showed that the biodiversity of the cattail ecosystem is greater than the biodiversity of the common reed ecosystem. This is based on the fact that the common reed is a disturbance to the stability of ecosystems containing cattails. MATERIALS AND METHODS Materials: Test tubes Soil kit Collecting instruments such as buckets, scissors, tweezers pH kit Soil kit (potassium, nitrogen) Water kit Freezer Gel electrophoresis kit Various chemicals to isolate DNA Centrifuge Water bath Plant primers to separate DNA CONCLUSIONS Procedure: 1. A 1x1 meter quadrant was used to isolate two areas on each side of the small stream. 2. Various tools were sued to take samples of 20 plants, after receiving permission from the park. 3. The samples were frozen until all of the DNA extraction equipment had arrived from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. 4. Several steps were used to isolate and combine the DNA from each plant with a primer. 5. Gel electrophoresis was performed; samples that could be sent to Genewiz were determined. 6. After the samples were sequenced by Genewiz, DNA Subway was utilized to identify the plants. • There was a drastic difference in biodiversity between the two locations, demonstrating that phragmites does alter the environment of cattail populations once introduced. The biodiversity of each region was different, except for one species, Chrysanthemum maximum. • We have inferred that the invasive species phragmites takes away nutrients from other plants that normally would be available in locations with cattail populations. Lower maintenance plants take root in phragmites-ridden regions. Sample Identification #1-8: Cattail Area 001: Typha 002: Solidago missouriensis 003: Baccharis neglecta 004: Chrysanthemum maximum 005: Agrostis hyemalis 006: Solidago missouriensis 007: Chrysanthemum maximum/ Hulteniella 008: Plantago lanceolate #9-11: Phragmites Area 009: Phragmites australis 011: Baccharis neglecta 012: Callistephus chinensis 013: Melilotus albus 014: Festuca idahoensis 015: Plantago lanceolata 016: Chrysanthemum maximum 017: Rosa laevigata 018: Artemisia frigida 019: Symphyotrichum laeve Gel Electrophoresis Results QUESTION What is the effect of the invasive species phragmites on biodiversity on regions previously inhabited by cattail populations? HYPOTHESIS If Phragmites is invasive to the ecosystem of the cattail, then the biodiversity of the Phragmite’s ecosystem will be lesser to that of the cattail. OBJECTIVE • To compare the biodiversity of Typha ecosystems to that of the ecosystems of P. australis. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015 www.PosterPresentations.com ABIOTIC SAMPLES Land Conditions Location: Seaford, NY Temperature: 64 Degrees F (feels like 59 Degrees F) Humidity: 70% Precipitation: 20% Wind: 16 mph Weather Observations:cloudy, overcast CattailsLatitude: 40 Degrees 40’ 03’’ North Longitude: 73 Degrees 28’ 51’’ West Elevation: 30 ft PhragmitesLatitude: 40 Degrees 40’ 05’’ North Longitude: 73 Degrees 28’ 52’’ West Elevation: 10 ft Water Conditions Salinity: 0 Water Temperature: 58 Degrees F pH: 5.5 Specific Gravity: 1.000 Soil Conditions Soil Characteristics: very moist, humus-like, leaves, sticks, branches, and lots of roots pH: 6 Nitrogen: Low Potassium: Low Phosphorous: Low What is special about Chrysanthemum maximum that gives it the ability to be able to survive in both a cattail and phragmites-ridden region? Would the difference in biodiversity between the two locations remain the same or be different in a season other than fall? What nutrients do phragmites require to thrive compared to cattails? What nutrients to the plants found in each respective region require? ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Mr. Curlew, our mentor • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories for the supply of the extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis materials.