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Opportunistic Macroalgae as a Component in Assessment of Eutrophication. DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14121112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
For the last few decades, coastal eutrophication with the associated mass development of opportunistic macroalgae has increased on a global scale. Since the end of the 2000’s, the number of studies of macroalgal blooms also increased many times. Mass occurrences of such species as Cladophora spp., Ulva spp., and Spirogyra spp. caused a necessity to improve existing methods of ecological assessment and develop new ones. There are many indices based on macroalgae and developed for marine and estuarine ecosystems. However, for correct evaluation, they demand a presence of a number of species, including perennial species from the order Fucales. This requirement cannot be satisfied in fresh or brackish waters, including some estuaries, because often, the freshwater communities are dominated by only one or two opportunistic species. The present paper defines the most relevant topics in studies of macroalgal blooms and reviews indices and metrics which can be recommended for the ecological assessment in diverse habitats influenced or dominated by opportunistic macroalgae species. For ecological assessment of opportunistic communities, according to their seasonal peculiarities, the author recommends, besides biomass, involving evaluation of algal mats (thickness, coverage) and signs of hypoxia.
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Abdool-Ghany AA, Sahwell PJ, Klaus J, Gidley ML, Sinigalliano CD, Solo-Gabriele HM. Fecal indicator bacteria levels at a marine beach before, during, and after the COVID-19 shutdown period and associations with decomposing seaweed and human presence. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158349. [PMID: 36041612 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Studies are limited that evaluate seaweed as a source of bacteria to beach waters. The objective of the current study was to evaluate whether seaweed, along with humans and other animals, could be the cause of beach advisories due to elevated levels of enterococci. The monitoring period occurred a year prior to and through the COVID-19 beach shutdown period, which provided a unique opportunity to evaluate bacteria levels during prolonged periods without recreational activity. Samples of water, sediment, and seaweed were measured for enterococci by culture and qPCR, in addition to microbial source tracking by qPCR of fecal bacteria markers from humans, dogs, and birds. During periods of elevated enterococci levels in water, these analyses were supplemented by chemical source tracking of human-associated excretion markers (caffeine, sucralose, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen). Results show that enterococci with elevated levels of human fecal markers persist in the seaweed and sediment and are the likely contributor to elevated levels of bacteria to the nearshore waters. During the shutdown period the elevated levels of enterococci in the sediment were isolated to the seaweed stranding areas. During periods when the beaches were open, enterococci were distributed more uniformly in sediment across the supratidal and intertidal zones. It is hypothesized from this study that human foot traffic may be responsible for the spread of enterococci throughout these areas. Overall, this study found high levels of enterococci in decomposing seaweed supporting the hypothesis that decomposing seaweed provides an additional substrate for enterococci to grow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afeefa A Abdool-Ghany
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Peter J Sahwell
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - James Klaus
- Department of Marine Geosciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Key Biscayne, FL, USA
| | - Maribeth L Gidley
- University of Miami, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), Miami, FL, USA; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), Miami, FL, USA
| | - Christopher D Sinigalliano
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), Miami, FL, USA
| | - Helena M Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
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Carducci A, Federigi I, Balestri E, Lardicci C, Castelli A, Maltagliati F, Zhao H, Menicagli V, Valente R, De Battisti D, Verani M. Virus contamination and infectivity in beach environment: Focus on sand and stranded material. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 185:114342. [PMID: 36395711 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
To assess the exposure of beachgoers to viruses, a study on seawater, sand, and beach-stranded material was carried out, searching for human viruses, fecal indicator organisms, and total fungi. Moreover, for the first time, the genome persistence and infectivity of two model viruses was studied in laboratory-spiked sand and seawater samples during a one-week experiment. Viral genome was detected in 13.6 % of the environmental samples, but it was not infectious (Human Adenovirus - HAdV, and enterovirus). Norovirus and SARS-CoV-2 were not detected. The most contaminated samples were from sand and close to riverine discharges. In lab-scale experiments, the infectivity of HAdV5 decreased by ~1.5-Log10 in a week, the one of Human Coronavirus-229E disappeared in <3 h in sand. The genome of both viruses persisted throughout the experiment. Our results confirm viral contamination of the beach and suggest HAdV as an index pathogen for beach monitoring and quantitative risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalaura Carducci
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ileana Federigi
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Elena Balestri
- Unit of Marine Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Lardicci
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, via S. Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing University of Pisa (CISUP), Pisa, Italy
| | - Alberto Castelli
- Unit of Marine Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ferruccio Maltagliati
- Unit of Marine Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Hongrui Zhao
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Virginia Menicagli
- Unit of Marine Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing University of Pisa (CISUP), Pisa, Italy
| | - Rossella Valente
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Davide De Battisti
- Unit of Marine Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Department of Biology, Chioggia Hydrobiological Station Umberto D'Ancona, University of Padova, Chioggia, Italy
| | - Marco Verani
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Virology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via S. Zeno 35/39, 56127 Pisa, Italy
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Cho KH, Wolny J, Kase JA, Unno T, Pachepsky Y. Interactions of E. coli with algae and aquatic vegetation in natural waters. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 209:117952. [PMID: 34965489 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Both algae and bacteria are essential inhabitants of surface waters. Their presence is of ecological significance and sometimes of public health concern triggering various control actions. Interactions of microalgae, macroalgae, submerged aquatic vegetation, and bacteria appear to be important phenomena necessitating a deeper understanding by those involved in research and management of microbial water quality. Given the long-standing reliance on Escherichia coli as an indicator of the potential presence of pathogens in natural waters, understanding its biology in aquatic systems is necessary. The major effects of algae and aquatic vegetation on E. coli growth and survival, including changes in the nutrient supply, modification of water properties and constituents, impact on sunlight radiation penetration, survival as related to substrate attachment, algal mediation of secondary habitats, and survival inhibition due to the release of toxic substances and antibiotics, are discussed in this review. An examination of horizontal gene transfer and antibiotic resistance potential, strain-specific interactions, effects on the microbial, microalgae, and grazer community structure, and hydrodynamic controls is given. Outlooks due to existing and expected consequences of climate change and advances in observation technologies via high-resolution satellite imaging, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), and mathematical modeling are additionally covered. The multiplicity of interactions among bacteria, algae, and aquatic vegetation as well as multifaceted impacts of these interactions, create a wide spectrum of research opportunities and technology developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Hwa Cho
- Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jennifer Wolny
- Division of Microbiology, Office of Regulatory Science, Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USA
| | - Julie A Kase
- Division of Microbiology, Office of Regulatory Science, Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USA
| | - Tatsui Unno
- College of Applied Life Science, Jeju National University, Republic of Korea
| | - Yakov Pachepsky
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USA.
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Kinzelman J, Byappanahalli MN, Nevers MB, Shively D, Kurdas S, Nakatsu C. Utilization of multiple microbial tools to evaluate efficacy of restoration strategies to improve recreational water quality at a Lake Michigan Beach (Racine, WI). J Microbiol Methods 2020; 178:106049. [PMID: 32891633 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2020.106049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Hydro-meteorological conditions facilitate transport of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) to the nearshore environment, affecting recreational water quality. North Beach (Racine, Wisconsin, United States), is an exemplar public beach site along Lake Michigan, where precipitation-mediated surface runoff, wave encroachment, stormwater and tributary outflow were demonstrated to contribute to beach advisories. Multiple restoration actions, including installation of a stormwater retention wetland, were successfully deployed to improve recreational water quality. Implementation of molecular methods (e.g. human microbial source tracking markers and Escherichia coli (E. coli) qPCR) assisted in identifying potential pollution sources and improving public health response time. However, periodic water quality failures still occur. As local beach managers reassess restoration measures in response to climatic changes, use of expanded microbial methods (including bacterial community profiling) may contribute to a better understanding of these dynamic environments. In this 2-year study (2015 and 2019), nearshore/offshore Lake Michigan, stormwater, and tributary samples were collected to determine if, 1) the constructed wetland (~50 m from the shoreline) continued to provide stormwater separation/retention and 2) mixing between onshore sources, Root River and Lake Michigan, was increasing due to rising precipitation/lake levels. Monthly rainfall totals were 1.5× higher in 2019 than 2015, coinciding with a 0.63 m lake-level rise. The prevalence of more intense, onshore winds also increased, facilitating interaction between potential reservoirs of FIB with nearshore water through wind driven waves and lake intrusion, e.g. beach sands and the adjacent Root River. While a strong relationship existed between wet weather wetland and North Beach nearshore E. coli concentrations (all sites), bacterial communities were strikingly different. Conversely, bacterial community overlap existed between the Root River mouth and nearshore/offshore sites. These results suggest the constructed wetland can accommodate the climate-related changes observed in this study. Future restoration activities could be directed towards upstream tributary sources in order to minimize microbial contaminants entering Lake Michigan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Kinzelman
- City of Racine, Public Health Department Laboratory, 730 Washington Avenue, Racine, WI 53403, United States of America.
| | - M N Byappanahalli
- U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, 1574 N 300 E, Chesterton, IN 46304, United States of America
| | - M B Nevers
- U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, 1574 N 300 E, Chesterton, IN 46304, United States of America
| | - D Shively
- U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, 1574 N 300 E, Chesterton, IN 46304, United States of America
| | - S Kurdas
- City of Racine, Public Health Department Laboratory, 730 Washington Avenue, Racine, WI 53403, United States of America
| | - C Nakatsu
- Purdue University, Department of Agronomy, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States of America
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Cristiano SDC, Rockett GC, Portz LC, Souza Filho JRD. Beach landscape management as a sustainable tourism resource in Fernando de Noronha Island (Brazil). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 150:110621. [PMID: 31669708 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Coastal Scenery Evaluation System was used to analyze the landscape of touristic beaches at the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, using a checklist with 26 physical and human parameters. The beaches are divided into classes ranging from 1 (extremely attractive natural site) to 5 (unattractive urban areas). The data reflects the natural and anthropogenic characteristics of the coastal Noronha scenery, which have international relevance and are between classes 1-4. Class 3 and 4 beaches are associated with anthropogenic factors/parameters. Seasonal sedimentary stock variation has also contributed to the differences in classes between the seasons at some beaches. The results of this study are useful to create new perspectives for sustainable development based on the singularities of this touristic resource - the landscape. The Fernando de Noronha Archipelago depends on its landscapes for tourism. Therefore, government policies should seek the sustainable management of its beaches, so as to ensure the protection of natural and cultural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samanta da Costa Cristiano
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - PPGGEO/IGEO/UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Prédio 43113, Sala 207, Agronomia, Zip Code: 15001, Porto Alegre, CEP: 91501-970, RS, Brazil.
| | - Gabriela Camboim Rockett
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - PPGGEO/IGEO/UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Prédio 43113, Sala 207, Agronomia, Zip Code: 15001, Porto Alegre, CEP: 91501-970, RS, Brazil.
| | - Luana Carla Portz
- Universidad de la Costa - CUC, Calle 58 # 55 - 66, Barranquilla, Colombia.
| | - José Rodrigues de Souza Filho
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Baiano - IF Baiano. Rua do Rouxinol, 115, Imbuí, Salvador - BA, CEP: 41720-052, Brazil.
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Mathai PP, Dunn HM, Magnone P, Zhang Q, Ishii S, Chun CL, Sadowsky MJ. Association between submerged aquatic vegetation and elevated levels of Escherichia coli and potential bacterial pathogens in freshwater lakes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 657:319-324. [PMID: 30543981 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Fecal indicator bacteria such as Escherichia coli have been reported to persist and potentially grow in a wide variety of secondary habitats, such as water, beach sand, sediment, periphyton and some algae. However, little is known about their association with submerged macrophytes and how this may influence water quality. In this study, we examined the association of E. coli and potential bacterial pathogens with Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM), an invasive, submerged, macrophyte that has spread across thousands of lakes in North America. EWM samples were collected from 10 lakes in Minnesota, once a month, for six consecutive months from early summer to late fall. Microbiota associated with EWM were examined using membrane filtration, quantitative PCR targeting various bacterial pathogens and host-associated marker genes, and high-throughput DNA sequencing. E. coli densities were generally elevated on EWM samples, and peaked during warmer months. Moreover, our results showed that EWM could serve as a temporal source for transmission of microbiota to the water column. Several potential pathogenic groups, including Aeromonas, Enterobacteriaceae, and Clostridium were present in significantly greater relative abundance on EWM than in water, and waterfowl was predicted to be the major source of fecal contamination. These findings have water quality implications with respect to the potential for submerged macrophytes to harbor and disperse E. coli and other bacterial pathogens in a large number of waterbodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prince P Mathai
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Hannah M Dunn
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Paolo Magnone
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Qian Zhang
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Satoshi Ishii
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA; Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Chan Lan Chun
- Department of Civil Engineering and National Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Michael J Sadowsky
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA; Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA; Department of Plant, and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
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Reimer JR, Wu CH, Sorsa KK. Water Exclosure Treatment System (WETS): An innovative device for minimizing beach closures. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 625:809-818. [PMID: 29306169 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A Water Exclosure Treatment System (WETS) is developed and installed to minimize the occurrence of beach closures due to algae and Escherchia coli (E. coli) in an inland lake. WETS consists of an "exclosure" sub-system with a five-sided polypropylene, barrier that excludes offshore lake contaminated water from the swimming area. Inside the exclosure, water is pumped to a portable filtration-ultraviolet treatment sub-system with three components. First, heavy debris like aquatic plants are removed through a strainer. Second, fine particles are removed through a sand filter and backwashing is automated through a program logic controller triggered by pressure sensor readings. Third, pathogens, algae, bacteria, and viruses are inactivated through ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. To determine sizing of sand filters and evaluation of efficiency of UV disinfection and aid in the design of the inlet and outlet locations for the pump system, computational fluid dynamics modeling with a Lagrangian particle-tracking method are employed. Flushing time is determined to range from 0.67 to 1.89days. Residence time maps reveal inlet and outlet locations play an important role in depicting the duration of particles within the swimming area. Comprehensive water quality sampling is conducted and analyzed with ANOVA testing reveal that water quality parameters inside the exclosure are significantly different than those outside. There have been no beach closures issued since deployment of WETS. Overall, WETS, an innovative Water Exclosure Treatment System, provides safe, clean water inside the exclosure for minimizing beach closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Reimer
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Chin H Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Kirsti K Sorsa
- Department of Public Health of Madison and Dane County, Madison, WI, USA
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Xie Y, Qiu N, Wang G. Toward a better guard of coastal water safety-Microbial distribution in coastal water and their facile detection. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 118:5-16. [PMID: 28215556 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Prosperous development in marine-based tourism has raised increasing concerns over the sanitary quality of coastal waters with potential microbial contamination. The World Health Organization has set stringent standards over a list of pathogenic microorganisms posing potential threats to people with frequent coastal water exposure and has asked for efficient detection procedures for pathogen facile identification. Inspection of survey events regarding the occurrence of marine pathogens in recreational beaches in recent years has reinforced the need for the development of a rapid identification procedure. In this review, we examine the possibility of recruiting uniform molecular assays to identify different marine pathogens and the feasibility of appropriate biomarkers, including enterochelin biosynthetic genes, for general toxicity assays. The focus is not only on bacterial pathogens but also on other groups of infectious pathogens. The ultimate goal is the development of a handy method to more efficiently and rapidly detect marine pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxuan Xie
- Tianjin University Center for Marine Environmental Ecology, School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Ning Qiu
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Guangyi Wang
- Tianjin University Center for Marine Environmental Ecology, School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
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Lévesque D, Cattaneo A, Deschamps G, Hudon C. In the eye of the beholder: Assessing the water quality of shoreline parks around the Island of Montreal through citizen science. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 579:978-988. [PMID: 27914646 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
As a part of the FreshWater Watch project aiming to promote volunteers' water monitoring in 25 cities around the world, St. Lawrence River water quality was characterized at 28 public shoreline parks around Montreal Island, Quebec, Canada. This involved training of 69 citizen scientists by researchers of the Université de Montréal in five one-day sessions. Shoreline sampling yielded 174 data points over three summers (May 2013 to November 2015). Water turbidity, nitrate and phosphate concentrations were measured in situ, together with the thickness and type of beach-cast vegetation, and the relative abundance of different types of beach litter. Data generated by citizen scientists provided 1) an overview of the water quality of the St. Lawrence and Des Prairies rivers around the Island of Montreal, 2) an estimation of the quantity and types of beach-cast aquatic plants and filamentous algae, and 3) novel insights into the distribution of the nuisance cyanobacterium Lyngbya wollei. Overall, half of the sites were classified as "good" being characterized by low turbidity, nitrate and phosphate concentrations, and little deposition of beach-cast vegetation. Lyngbya wollei was found at 57% of the sites, revealing a more frequent occurrence than initially anticipated. The amount of litter recorded along the shoreline was generally small, comprising items related to picnicking (cans/bottles), smoking, and fishing activities in most parks. Wind exposure and rain events explained a significant fraction of the variability in nutrient concentration and turbidity among sites and dates. Shoreline condition assessed from water quality and vegetation data from this study was not correlated, however, with the most serious problem of faecal coliform counts gathered by the City of Montreal. This assessment of the quality and utilization of shoreline parks provides additional information to support planning and management activities of municipalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Lévesque
- Université de Montréal GRIL, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - A Cattaneo
- Université de Montréal GRIL, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - G Deschamps
- Ville de Montréal, Service de l'environnement, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - C Hudon
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Montreal, QC H2Y 2E7, Canada.
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Poikane S, Kelly M, Cantonati M. Benthic algal assessment of ecological status in European lakes and rivers: Challenges and opportunities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:603-613. [PMID: 26936662 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This opinion paper introduces a special series of articles dedicated to freshwater benthic algae and their use in assessment and monitoring. This special series was inspired by talks presented at the 9th International Congress on the Use of Algae for Monitoring Rivers and Comparable Habitats (Trento, Italy, 2015), the latest of a series of meetings started in 1991. In this paper, we will first provide a brief overview of phytobenthos methods in Europe. Then, we will turn towards the 'dark side' of phytobenthos and describe four particular problems for phytobenthos assessment in the European Union: (1) over-reliance on a single group of algae (mostly diatoms) to the exclusion of other groups; (2) relatively low adoption of benthic algae for ecological assessments in lakes; (3) absence of measures of phytobenthos abundance; (4) approaches used to define boundaries between ecological classes. Following this, we evaluate the strengths and limitations of current phytobenthos assessment methods against 12 criteria for method evaluation addressing four areas: ecological rationale, performance, feasibility of implementation, and use in communication and management. Using these criteria, we identify and discuss three general challenges for those developing new methods for phytobenthos-based assessment: a weak ecological rationale and insufficient consideration of the role of phytobenthos as a diagnostic tool and for communicating ecosystem health beyond a narrow group of specialists. The papers in the special series allow a comparison with the situation and approaches in the USA, present new methods for the assessment of ecological status and acidification, provide tools for an improved management of headwaters and petrifying springs, discuss the utility of phytobenthos for lake assessments, and test the utility of functional measures (such as biofilm phosphorus uptake capacity, PUC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Poikane
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, via E. Fermi 2749, Ispra 21027, Italy.
| | - Martyn Kelly
- Bowburn Consultancy, 11 Monteigne Drive, Bowburn, Durham DH6 5QB, UK
| | - Marco Cantonati
- Museo delle Scienze - MUSE, Limnology and Phycology Section, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, I-38123 Trento, Italy
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Quero GM, Fasolato L, Vignaroli C, Luna GM. Understanding the association of Escherichia coli with diverse macroalgae in the lagoon of Venice. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10969. [PMID: 26043415 PMCID: PMC4455311 DOI: 10.1038/srep10969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies provided evidence that the macroalga Cladopohora in lakes hosts associated Escherichia coli, with consequences on the environmental and human health. We expanded these investigations to other macroalgae (Ulva spp., Sargassum muticum and Undaria pinnatifida) widespread in the lagoon of Venice (Italy). Attached E. coli were abundant, accounting up to 3,250 CFU gram−1 of alga. Macroalgal-associated isolates belonged to all E. coli phylogroups, including pathogenic ones, and to Escherichia cryptic clades. Attached E. coli showed potential to grow even at in situ temperature on macroalgal extracts as only source of carbon and nutrients, and ability to produce biofilm in vitro. The genotypic diversity of the attached isolates was high, with significant differences between algae and the overlying water. Our evidences suggest that attached populations consist of both resident and transient strains, likely resulting from the heterogeneous input of fecal bacteria from the city. We report that cosmopolitan and invasive macroalgae may serve as source of E. coli, including pathogenic genotypes, and that this habitat can potentially support their growth. Considering the global diffusion of the macroalgae here studied, this phenomenon is likely occurring in other coastal cities worldwide and deserves further investigations from either the sanitary and ecological perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia M Quero
- Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR - ISMAR), National Research Council, Venezia, Italy
| | - Luca Fasolato
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Carla Vignaroli
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Luna
- Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR - ISMAR), National Research Council, Venezia, Italy
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Lan Chun C, Kahn CI, Borchert AJ, Byappanahalli MN, Whitman RL, Peller J, Pier C, Lin G, Johnson EA, Sadowsky MJ. Prevalence of toxin-producing Clostridium botulinum associated with the macroalga Cladophora in three Great Lakes: growth and management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 511:523-529. [PMID: 25577739 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The reemergence of avian botulism caused by Clostridium botulinum type E has been observed across the Great Lakes in recent years. Evidence suggests an association between the nuisance algae, Cladophora spp., and C. botulinum in nearshore areas of the Great Lakes. However, the nature of the association between Cladophora and C. botulinum is not fully understood due, in part, to the complex food web interactions in this disease etiology. In this study, we extensively evaluated their association by quantitatively examining population size and serotypes of C. botulinum in algal mats collected from wide geographic areas in lakes Michigan, Ontario, and Erie in 2011-2012 and comparing them with frequencies in other matrices such as sand and water. A high prevalence (96%) of C. botulinum type E was observed in Cladophora mats collected from shorelines of the Great Lakes in 2012. Among the algae samples containing detectable C. botulinum, the population size of C. Botulinum type E was 10(0)-10(4) MPN/g dried algae, which was much greater (up to 10(3) fold) than that found in sand or the water column, indicating that Cladophora mats are sources of this pathogen. Mouse toxinantitoxin bioassays confirmed that the putative C. botulinum belonged to the type E serotype. Steam treatment was effective in reducing or eliminating C. botulinum type E viable cells in Cladophora mats, thereby breaking the potential transmission route of toxin up to the food chain. Consequently, our data suggest that steam treatment incorporated with a beach cleaning machine may be an effective treatment of Cladophora-borne C. botulinum and may reduce bird mortality and human health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Lan Chun
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
| | - Chase I Kahn
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
| | - Andrew J Borchert
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
| | - Muruleedhara N Byappanahalli
- Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, Great Lakes Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Porter, IN 46304, United States
| | - Richard L Whitman
- Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, Great Lakes Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Porter, IN 46304, United States
| | - Julie Peller
- Department of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, Indiana University Northwest, Gary, IN 46408, United States
| | - Christina Pier
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Guangyun Lin
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Eric A Johnson
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Michael J Sadowsky
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States; Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States.
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Beckinghausen A, Martinez A, Blersch D, Haznedaroglu BZ. Association of nuisance filamentous algae Cladophora spp. with E. coli and Salmonella in public beach waters: impacts of UV protection on bacterial survival. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2014; 16:1267-1274. [PMID: 24643370 DOI: 10.1039/c3em00659j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated whether filamentous algal species commonly found in nearshore public beach water systems provide protection from natural UV to bacteria present in the same environmental settings. To test this hypothesis, Cladophora spp., a filamentous nuisance algae group causing undesired water quality in the Great Lakes region was selected and its interactions with a non-pathogenic indicator organism Escherichia coli and a pathogenic strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium were tested. In laboratory microcosms where the lake environment and natural sunlight conditions were simulated, a 7-log removal of E. coli was observed in only six hours of exposure to UV with an initial seed concentration of 10(3) CFU mL(-1). With the presence of algae, the same log removal was achieved in 16 hours. At higher seed concentrations of 10(5) CFU mL(-1), E. coli survived for two days with an extended survival up to 11 days in the presence of Cladophora spp. S. typhimurium has shown more resilient survival profiles, with the same log removals achieved in 14 and 20 days for low and high seed concentrations respectively, in the absence of algae. Cladophora spp. caused extended protection for S. typhimurium with much less log reductions reported. Algae-mediated protection from UV irradiation was attributed to certain organic carbon exuded from Cladophora spp. In addition, confocal microscopy images confirmed close interaction between bacteria and algae, more prominent with thin filamentous Cladophora spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aubrey Beckinghausen
- Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, 212 Ketter Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14260 USA.
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17
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Mini-review: A priori considerations for bacteria–algae interactions in algal biofuel systems receiving municipal wastewaters. ALGAL RES 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2013.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Russell TL, Sassoubre LM, Zhou C, French-Owen D, Hassaballah A, Boehm AB. Impacts of beach wrack removal via grooming on surf zone water quality. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:2203-2211. [PMID: 24437501 DOI: 10.1021/es405536q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are used to assess the microbial water quality of recreational waters. Increasingly, nonfecal sources of FIB have been implicated as causes of poor microbial water quality in the coastal environment. These sources are challenging to quantify and difficult to remediate. The present study investigates one nonfecal FIB source, beach wrack (decaying aquatic plants), and its impacts on water quality along the Central California coast. The prevalence of FIB on wrack was studied using a multibeach survey, collecting wrack throughout Central California. The impacts of beach grooming, to remove wrack, were investigated at Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz, California using a long-term survey (two summers, one with and one without grooming) and a 48 h survey during the first ever intensive grooming event. FIB were prevalent on wrack but highly variable spatially and temporally along the nine beaches sampled in Central California. Beach grooming was generally associated with either no change or a slight increase in coastal FIB concentrations and increases in surf zone turbidity and silicate, phosphate, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations. The findings suggest that beach grooming for wrack removal is not justified as a microbial pollution remediation strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd L Russell
- Environmental and Water Studies, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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Staley C, Reckhow KH, Lukasik J, Harwood VJ. Assessment of sources of human pathogens and fecal contamination in a Florida freshwater lake. WATER RESEARCH 2012; 46:5799-5812. [PMID: 22939220 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2012] [Revised: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the potential for a variety of environmental reservoirs to harbor or contribute fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), DNA markers of human fecal contamination, and human pathogens to a freshwater lake. We hypothesized that submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), sediments, and stormwater act as reservoirs and/or provide inputs of FIB and human pathogens to this inland water. Analysis included microbial source tracking (MST) markers of sewage contamination (Enterococcus faecium esp gene, human-associated Bacteroides HF183, and human polyomaviruses), pathogens (Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and enteric viruses), and FIB (fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and enterococci). Bayesian analysis was used to assess relationships among microbial and physicochemical variables. FIB in the water were correlated with concentrations in SAV and sediment. Furthermore, the correlation of antecedent rainfall and major rain events with FIB concentrations and detection of human markers and pathogens points toward multiple reservoirs for microbial contaminants in this system. Although pathogens and human-source markers were detected in 55% and 21% of samples, respectively, markers rarely coincided with pathogen detection. Bayesian analysis revealed that low concentrations (<45 CFU × 100 ml(-1)) of fecal coliforms were associated with 93% probability that pathogens would not be detected; furthermore the Bayes net model showed associations between elevated temperature and rainfall with fecal coliform and enterococci concentrations, but not E. coli. These data indicate that many under-studied matrices (e.g. SAV, sediment, stormwater) are important reservoirs for FIB and potentially human pathogens and demonstrate the usefulness of Bayes net analysis for water quality assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Staley
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, SCA 110, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | | | - Jerzy Lukasik
- Biological Consulting Services, Gainesville, FL 32609, USA
| | - Valerie J Harwood
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, SCA 110, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
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Zulkifly S, Hanshew A, Young EB, Lee P, Graham ME, Graham ME, Piotrowski M, Graham LE. The epiphytic microbiota of the globally widespread macroalga Cladophora glomerata (Chlorophyta, Cladophorales). AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2012; 99:1541-1552. [PMID: 22947483 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1200161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY The filamentous chlorophyte Cladophora produces abundant nearshore populations in marine and freshwaters worldwide, often dominating periphyton communities and producing nuisance growths under eutrophic conditions. High surface area and environmental persistence foster such high functional and taxonomic diversity of epiphytic microfauna and microalgae that Cladophora has been labeled an ecological engineer. We tested the hypotheses that (1) Cladophora supports a structurally and functionally diverse epiphytic prokaryotic microbiota that influences materials cycling and (2) mutualistic host-microbe interactions occur. Because previous molecular sequencing-based analyses of the microbiota of C. glomerata found as western Lake Michigan beach drift had identified pathogenic associates such as Escherichia coli, we also asked if actively growing lentic C. glomerata harbors known pathogens. METHODS We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing to examine the microbiota of C. glomerata of Lake Mendota, Dane, Wisconsin, United States, during the growing season of 2011, at the genus- or species-level to infer functional phenotypes. We used correlative scanning electron and fluorescence microscopy to describe major prokaryotic morphotypes. KEY RESULTS We found microscopic evidence for diverse bacterial morphotypes, and molecular evidence for ca. 100 distinct sequence types classifiable to genus at the 80% confidence level or species at the 96-97% level within nine bacterial phyla, but not E. coli or related human pathogens. CONCLUSIONS We inferred that bacterial epiphytes of lentic C. glomerata have diverse functions in materials cycling, with traits that indicate the occurrence of mutualistic interactions with the algal host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrizim Zulkifly
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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21
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Nickerson CA, Ott CM, Castro SL, Garcia VM, Molina TC, Briggler JT, Pitt AL, Tavano JJ, Byram JK, Barrila J, Nickerson MA. Evaluation of microorganisms cultured from injured and repressed tissue regeneration sites in endangered giant aquatic Ozark Hellbender salamanders. PLoS One 2011; 6:e28906. [PMID: 22205979 PMCID: PMC3242767 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigation into the causes underlying the rapid, global amphibian decline provides critical insight into the effects of changing ecosystems. Hypothesized and confirmed links between amphibian declines, disease, and environmental changes are increasingly represented in published literature. However, there are few long-term amphibian studies that include data on population size, abnormality/injury rates, disease, and habitat variables to adequately assess changes through time. We cultured and identified microorganisms isolated from abnormal/injured and repressed tissue regeneration sites of the endangered Ozark Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi, to discover potential causative agents responsible for their significant decline in health and population. This organism and our study site were chosen because the population and habitat of C. a. bishopi have been intensively studied from 1969–2009, and the abnormality/injury rate and apparent lack of regeneration were established. Although many bacterial and fungal isolates recovered were common environmental organisms, several opportunistic pathogens were identified in association with only the injured tissues of C.a. bishopi. Bacterial isolates included Aeromonas hydrophila, a known amphibian pathogen, Granulicetella adiacens, Gordonai terrae, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Aerococcus viridans, Streptococcus pneumoniae and a variety of Pseudomonads, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. stutzeri, and P. alcaligenes. Fungal isolates included species in the genera Penicillium, Acremonium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Streptomycetes, and the Class Hyphomycetes. Many of the opportunistic pathogens identified are known to form biofilms. Lack of isolation of the same organism from all wounds suggests that the etiological agent responsible for the damage to C. a. bishopi may not be a single organism. To our knowledge, this is the first study to profile the external microbial consortia cultured from a Cryptobranchid salamander. The incidence of abnormalities/injury and retarded regeneration in C. a. bishopi may have many contributing factors including disease and habitat degradation. Results from this study may provide insight into other amphibian population declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl A. Nickerson
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, The Biodesign Institute, Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - C. Mark Ott
- NASA/Johnson Space Center, Habitability and Environmental Factors Division, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sarah L. Castro
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Thomas C. Molina
- EASI, Wyle Laboratories, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey T. Briggler
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Amber L. Pitt
- University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Joseph J. Tavano
- University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - J. Kelly Byram
- University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Barrila
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, The Biodesign Institute, Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Max A. Nickerson
- University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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22
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Imamura GJ, Thompson RS, Boehm AB, Jay JA. Wrack promotes the persistence of fecal indicator bacteria in marine sands and seawater. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2011; 77:40-9. [PMID: 21385189 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01082.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Algae on freshwater beaches can serve as reservoirs for fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). Wrack (especially kelp) at marine beaches might sustain FIB as well. This study examines the relationship between beach wrack, FIB, and surrounding water and sediment at marine beaches along the California coast. Surveys of southern and central California beaches were conducted to observe environmental wrack-associated FIB concentrations. FIB concentrations normalized to dry weight were the highest in stranded dry wrack, followed by stranded wet and suspended 'surf' wrack. Laboratory microcosms were conducted to examine the effect of wrack on FIB persistence in seawater and sediment. Indigenous enterococci and Escherichia coli incubated in a seawater microcosm containing wrack showed increased persistence relative to those incubated in a microcosm without wrack. FIB concentrations in microcosms containing wrack-covered sand were significantly higher than those in uncovered sand after several days. These findings implicate beach wrack as an important FIB reservoir. The presence of wrack may increase water and sediment FIB levels, altering the relationship between FIB levels and actual health risk while possibly leading to beach closures. Further work will need to investigate the possibility of FIB growth on wrack and the potential for pathogen presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J Imamura
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Badgley BD, Thomas FIM, Harwood VJ. Quantifying environmental reservoirs of fecal indicator bacteria associated with sediment and submerged aquatic vegetation. Environ Microbiol 2011; 13:932-42. [PMID: 21208357 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02397.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Elevated concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in aquatic sediments and vegetation have prompted concern that environmental reservoirs of FIB disrupt the correlation between indicator organisms, pathogens and human health risks. FIB numbers, however, are typically normalized to volume of water or mass of substrate. Because these reservoirs tend to differ greatly in magnitude within and between water bodies, direct comparison between water column and benthic population sizes can be problematic. Normalization to a set volume of water or mass of substrate, e.g. cfu (100 ml)(-1) or cfu(100 g)(-1), can give a false picture of the relative contributions of various reservoirs to FIB numbers across the ecosystem, and of the potential for FIBs to trigger health advisories as they pass from one reservoir to another. Here, we normalized enterococci concentrations from water, sediment and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) to land surface area (m(2) ) to compare their relative importance in the entire system. SAV-associated enterococci comprised only 0-18% of the entire population, even though they displayed the highest concentrations of enterococci per unit mass. The largest proportion of the enterococci population was in the water column (4-77%) or sediments (20-95%), depending on the volume of each substrate available at a site and FIB concentrations within them. Models indicated that large shifts in the relative size of FIB populations in each substrate can result from changes in per cent SAV cover, water depth and depth of sediment colonization. It follows that high concentrations of FIB in sediments or SAV do not necessarily signify large environmental reservoirs of FIB that can affect the water column. Comprehensive analyses that include FIB measurements from water, SAV and sediment normalized to land surface area offer a more balanced perspective on total FIB numbers contained in various matrices of an aquatic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Badgley
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
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Badgley BD, Ferguson J, Vanden Heuvel A, Kleinheinz GT, McDermott CM, Sandrin TR, Kinzelman J, Junion EA, Byappanahalli MN, Whitman RL, Sadowsky MJ. Multi-scale temporal and spatial variation in genotypic composition of Cladophora-borne Escherichia coli populations in Lake Michigan. WATER RESEARCH 2011; 45:721-731. [PMID: 20851450 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2010.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2010] [Revised: 08/21/2010] [Accepted: 08/23/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
High concentrations of Escherichia coli in mats of Cladophora in the Great Lakes have raised concern over the continued use of this bacterium as an indicator of microbial water quality. Determining the impacts of these environmentally abundant E. coli, however, necessitates a better understanding of their ecology. In this study, the population structure of 4285 Cladophora-borne E. coli isolates, obtained over multiple three day periods from Lake Michigan Cladophora mats in 2007-2009, was examined by using DNA fingerprint analyses. In contrast to previous studies that have been done using isolates from attached Cladophora obtained over large time scales and distances, the extensive sampling done here on free-floating mats over successive days at multiple sites provided a large dataset that allowed for a detailed examination of changes in population structure over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. While Cladophora-borne E. coli populations were highly diverse and consisted of many unique isolates, multiple clonal groups were also present and accounted for approximately 33% of all isolates examined. Patterns in population structure were also evident. At the broadest scales, E. coli populations showed some temporal clustering when examined by year, but did not show good spatial distinction among sites. E. coli population structure also showed significant patterns at much finer temporal scales. Populations were distinct on an individual mat basis at a given site, and on individual days within a single mat. Results of these studies indicate that Cladophora-borne E. coli populations consist of a mixture of stable, and possibly naturalized, strains that persist during the life of the mat, and more unique, transient strains that can change over rapid time scales. It is clear that further study of microbial processes at fine spatial and temporal scales is needed, and that caution must be taken when interpolating short term microbial dynamics from results obtained from weekly or monthly samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Badgley
- University of Minnesota, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
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Badgley BD, Nayak BS, Harwood VJ. The importance of sediment and submerged aquatic vegetation as potential habitats for persistent strains of enterococci in a subtropical watershed. WATER RESEARCH 2010; 44:5857-66. [PMID: 20678788 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2010.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2010] [Revised: 06/09/2010] [Accepted: 07/01/2010] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence of extended survival of fecal indicator bacteria in sediments and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) has raised concerns about using indicator bacteria to reliably detect fecal contamination. We monitored enterococci densities and population structure in water, sediment and SAV simultaneously at sites across a subtropical watershed (Tampa Bay, FL, USA) over one year to determine the extent to which each matrix serves as a potential reservoir of enterococci. SAV harbored significantly higher mean densities of enterococci than sediments, which harbored higher densities than water. Mean enterococci densities were also greater at sites located further upstream in the watershed. The population structure assessed by BOX-PCR genotyping was relatively dissimilar in each sample, although some similarities among samples suggested grouping by location. Strain diversity ranged from very high to negligible, with lowest overall diversity in lake samples taken during the summer. Several strains were highly abundant and cosmopolitan (found across sites, seasons, and matrices) and were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as the Enterococcus species casseliflavus, faecalis, faecium, hirae, and mundtii. The proportional dominance of certain strains suggests the existence of persistent and possibly naturalized indicator bacteria populations that are not directly related to pollution events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Badgley
- Department of Integrative Biology, SCA 110, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
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Vanden Heuvel A, McDermott C, Pillsbury R, Sandrin T, Kinzelman J, Ferguson J, Sadowsky M, Byappanahalli M, Whitman R, Kleinheinz GT. The green alga, Cladophora, promotes Escherichia coli growth and contamination of recreational waters in Lake Michigan. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2010; 39:333-344. [PMID: 20048321 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2009.0152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A linkage between Cladophora mats and exceedances of recreational water quality criteria has been suggested, but not directly studied. This study investigates the spatial and temporal association between Escherichia coli concentrations within and near Cladophora mats at two northwestern Lake Michigan beaches in Door County, Wisconsin. Escherichia coli concentrations in water underlying mats were significantly greater than surrounding water (p < 0.001). Below mat E. coli increased as the stranded mats persisted at the beach swash zone. Water adjacent to Cladophora mats had lower E. coli concentrations, but surpassed EPA swimming criteria the majority of sampling days. A significant positive association was found between E. coli concentrations attached to Cladophora and in underlying water (p < 0.001). The attached E. coli likely acted as a reservoir for populating water underlying the mat. Fecal bacterial pathogens, however, could not be detected by microbiological culture methods either attached to mat biomass or in underlying water. Removal of Cladophora mats from beach areas may improve aesthetic and microbial water quality at affected beaches. These associations and potential natural growth of E. coli in bathing waters call into question the efficacy of using E. coli as a recreational water quality indicator of fecal contaminations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Vanden Heuvel
- Dep. of Biology and Microbiology, Univ. of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, WI 54901, USA
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