- Sana Khadri
- Effects of Vegetation on Mosquito Populations
- Integrative Biology
Describe
your research
experience
I seek to study the abundance and diversity of vegetation present at stormwater sites and its impact on the local mosquito and zooplankton population.
Stormwater habitats are man-made structures that hold rainwater. These structures are commonly used as breeding sites for mosquitos and zooplankton. Many abiotic and biotic factors influence the mosquito and zooplankton population size in these habitats, including certain species of vegetation that have been known to increase mosquito population by serving as a refuge from predators. Our lab sampled thirty-one stormwater structures to identify and quantify the vegetation present at each site. The sites were grouped based on hydroperiod, or how often water was found in them. We found the alpha diversity and alpha richness of the vegetation at each site, looking for trends among hydroperiods. Neither richness nor diversity among hydroperiods were significant. In the upcoming semester, I hope to compare the vegetation findings with mosquito and zooplankton counts as well as place the findings in a broader context by factoring in managerial impacts on the vegetation.
As one of the recipient's of OUR's Research Support Grant (2016), the results of Sana's research can be found here.