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Title
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An investigation of vibrio vulnificus and the influence of environmental factors on bacterial abundance and activity in a subtropical coastal estuary, Santa Rosa County, Florida, USA.
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Author
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Prousalis, Mark
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Abstract/Description
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Biotic and abiotic factors regulate marine microbial growth, activity, and biomass. We investigate how these environmental parameters influence bacteria within Indian Bayou of Santa Rosa County, Florida, over a period of fifteen months, with an interest in enumerating Vibrio vulnificus. Residents on properties surrounding the bayou were concerned that storm effects were discharging clay sediment into the bayou, disturbing the established ecosystem, and leading to a more hazardous environment...
Show moreBiotic and abiotic factors regulate marine microbial growth, activity, and biomass. We investigate how these environmental parameters influence bacteria within Indian Bayou of Santa Rosa County, Florida, over a period of fifteen months, with an interest in enumerating Vibrio vulnificus. Residents on properties surrounding the bayou were concerned that storm effects were discharging clay sediment into the bayou, disturbing the established ecosystem, and leading to a more hazardous environment for recreational activities by increased associated risk of V. vulnificus infection. In this study, heterotrophic bacterial activity and abundance are measured with regard to nutrient availability, chlorophyll, TSS, salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and precipitation. We used epifluorescence microscopy and radioisotope-labeled amino acid incorporation to determine the abundance and activity of total prokaryotes (bacteria) and qPCR to determine the presence and abundance of total bacteria and V. vulnificus. We investigated how bacteria were influenced by storm events and normal seasonal fluctuations. No pathogenic V. vulnificus was detected. Bacterial abundances determined by microscopy revealed a significant positive relationship with temperature and high TSS concentrations. Salinity exhibited a positive correlation with cell size and free-living abundances. No inorganic nitrogen or phosphorus species studied had a positive relationship with bacterial abundances (microscopy or qPCR). However, there was a positive correlation between phosphate and cell size. Heterotrophic activity increased with temperature and chlorophyll, TSS, and ammonium concentrations.
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Date Issued
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2020, 2020
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Identifier
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1206365157, WFE0000729
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Format
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Document (PDF)