TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial variability of E. coli in an urban salt-wedge estuary
AU - Jovanovic, Dusan
AU - Coleman, Rhys
AU - Deletic, Ana
AU - McCarthy, David
PY - 2017/1/15
Y1 - 2017/1/15
N2 - This study investigated the spatial variability of a common faecal indicator organism, Escherichia coli, in an urban salt-wedge estuary in Melbourne, Australia. Data were collected through comprehensive depth profiling in the water column at four sites and included measurements of temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and E. coli concentrations. Vertical variability of E. coli was closely related to the salt-wedge dynamics; in the presence of a salt-wedge, there was a significant decrease in E. coli concentrations with depth. Transverse variability was low and was most likely dwarfed by the analytical uncertainties of E. coli measurements. Longitudinal variability was also low, potentially reflecting minimal die-off, settling, and additional inputs entering along the estuary. These results were supported by a simple mixing model that predicted E. coli concentrations based on salinity measurements. Additionally, an assessment of a sentinel monitoring station suggested routine monitoring locations may produce conservative estimates of E. coli concentrations in stratified estuaries.
AB - This study investigated the spatial variability of a common faecal indicator organism, Escherichia coli, in an urban salt-wedge estuary in Melbourne, Australia. Data were collected through comprehensive depth profiling in the water column at four sites and included measurements of temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and E. coli concentrations. Vertical variability of E. coli was closely related to the salt-wedge dynamics; in the presence of a salt-wedge, there was a significant decrease in E. coli concentrations with depth. Transverse variability was low and was most likely dwarfed by the analytical uncertainties of E. coli measurements. Longitudinal variability was also low, potentially reflecting minimal die-off, settling, and additional inputs entering along the estuary. These results were supported by a simple mixing model that predicted E. coli concentrations based on salinity measurements. Additionally, an assessment of a sentinel monitoring station suggested routine monitoring locations may produce conservative estimates of E. coli concentrations in stratified estuaries.
KW - Depth profiling
KW - Faecal contamination
KW - Pathogens
KW - Spatial distribution
KW - Stratified estuary
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85009100440&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.08.061
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.08.061
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85009100440
SN - 0025-326X
VL - 114
SP - 114
EP - 122
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin
IS - 1
ER -