1. Comparison of Plant Species in Big Egg Marsh in Jamaica Bay, NY
before and after Hurricane Sandy
Authors: Yvette Domond, Prescilla Narain, Zahir Shadick
Mentor: Donna Artola
Queens High for Information Research and Technology
Tables & Figures
For example: Map of GPS coordinates where samples were collected
Pie charts to showing types/numbers of samples analyzed
Table of BLAST search results
Phylogenetic trees (using different methods)
Table showing sequence similarities among/within species or populations
Figure linking the sample localities with their placement in the phylogenetic tree
Abstract
In 2012, Far Rockaway was hit by a major storm called Hurricane Sandy. Many parts of the Rockaway peninsula were destroyed.  One area that sustained heavy damage due to saltwater erosion was the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, which lost a huge portion of its nature trail. We were interested in discovering if the influx of saltwater into the bay had an effect on the local intertidal plants, as well as those plants in the bay, and hypothesized that it did. Our main objective was to see if there was a difference in a key photosynthetic enzyme in plant species after Sandy. Our methodology included going to Jamaica Bay, collecting the samples, extraction of DNA, amplification by PCR, analysis by gel electrophoresis and sequencing by GenBank.  Our results showed that most of the plants in the area have not been dramatically changed by the saltwater
Materials and Methods
We selected our samples based upon location.  On March 29, 2017, we looked for plants that were close to the water because our hypothesis suggested that Hurricane Sandy would have had the greatest effect on the biodiversity of plant species, which had been overrun with salt water at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.  The end of March was warm enough for the plants to begin growing, and we collected 22 samples from three different locations throughout the refuge.  We then tested the samples using the standard Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory procedure:  isolation of DNA, PCR Amplification and evaluation by electrophoresis.  
Introduction: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is the only wildlife refuge in New York City.  The refuge is managed by the New York City Parks service.  It is mainly composed of open water and the salt marshes of Jamaica Bay.  In this refuge there is a very diverse mixture of flora and fauna, including animals such as the diamondback terrapin and horseshoe crab.  The refuge also consists of open woodlands, dunes, salt marshes, brackish ponds, intertidal zones and open fields.   We investigated brackish ponds, which is a pond that has more salinity than freshwater but not as much as seawater.   We based our research on Richard Stalter article “Vascular Flora of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Long Island, New York”.  Statler's research explains what species of plants inhabited Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge before Hurricane Sandy.  Before Hurricane Sandy, the brackish pond found at Jamaica Bay was a stand-alone pond with no connection to the tide.  After Hurricane Sandy, the barrier between the pond and the ocean was destroyed, resulting in a flood of seawater rushing into the pond.  This has changed the composition of the pond water and we plan to compare the plant species from before and after Sandy.  According to Wikipedia, Hurricane Sandy was the second deadliest and most destructive hurricane (or Superstorm) ever to hit the United States.  It was a Category 3 storm that developed from a tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea on October 22,  Sandy affected 24 states, including the entire eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine, but hit particularly hard in New Jersey and New York.  Far Rockaway, in Queens, NY, was particularly hit, as it is located at sea level on the south shore of Long Island.  
Discussion:
The implication of these findings mean that saltwater did not have a significant effect on the biodiversity of plant species found at Jamaica Bay. Our results are important because Hurricane Sandy deposited large amounts of salt water into Jamaica Bay, ostensibly disturbing the salinity levels and soil.  Our results show that the types of plant species in the studied area were not significantly altered
References:
1. Productions, Mixit. "Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge."New York Harbor Parks. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2017.
2."Hurricane Sandy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 May Web. 16 May 2017
3.Brooklyn College, n.d. Web. 23 Nov
4.Intertidal Zone." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2016
5."Dune." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 May Web. 23 Nov
6."Brackish Water." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 09 May Web. 23 Nov
7."Wildlife Conservation." National Wildlife Federation. Parks Department, n.d. Web. 23 Nov
8."Hurricane Sandy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 May Web. 23 Nov
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Principal Manalo from QIRT, the volunteers at Jamaica Bay Refuge Center, Mr. Lin from AMT, Ms. Sharon Pepenella from the DNA Learning Center and Mr. Staley from QIRT.
Results:
The plants we identified (see Figures 9 and 10 originally came from the eastern part of Asia in places like China, South Korea and Vietnam and are related to plants that come from Africa, and Europe This is consistent with the biodiversity found at the Refuge before Hurricane Sandy (New York Harbor Parks Department 2007).  Our conclusion is that the biodiversity in the area has not changed, even with the influx of saltwater.