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evaluation of the microbiological quality of sandy beaches: A novel approach

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Date Issued:
2004
Summary:
A novel, 'near-real' time technique; peptide nucleic acid chemilumiscent in situ hybridization (PNA CISH), was developed and validated for detecting, enumerating and identifying potential indicators (Staphyloccus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) of beach quality. To understand the dynamics of bacterial indicators a plethora of physical, chemical and biological parameters were tested under field and lab conditions. Escherichia coli tagged with green fluorescence protein (GFP) was used to assess the impact of wave energy and rainfall on seawater counts. PNA CISH and plate counts correlated strongly (r = 0.94 to r = 0.86). Temperature, salinity, nutrient availability and predation significantly influenced the survival of indicators. Rainfall and wave energy affected the re-suspension of bacteria from sand onto overlying water. Overall PNA CISH provides a reliable rapid method for beach monitoring. The implications of beach topography and sampling time on the numbers of Clostridium perfringens and other potential indicators are discussed. Data suggest a revision of policy for tropical sandy beaches.
Title: An evaluation of the microbiological quality of sandy beaches: A novel approach.
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Name(s): Mohammed, Renuka Lisa
Florida Atlantic University, Degree Grantor
Esiobu, Nwadiuto, Thesis Advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2004
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 151 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: A novel, 'near-real' time technique; peptide nucleic acid chemilumiscent in situ hybridization (PNA CISH), was developed and validated for detecting, enumerating and identifying potential indicators (Staphyloccus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) of beach quality. To understand the dynamics of bacterial indicators a plethora of physical, chemical and biological parameters were tested under field and lab conditions. Escherichia coli tagged with green fluorescence protein (GFP) was used to assess the impact of wave energy and rainfall on seawater counts. PNA CISH and plate counts correlated strongly (r = 0.94 to r = 0.86). Temperature, salinity, nutrient availability and predation significantly influenced the survival of indicators. Rainfall and wave energy affected the re-suspension of bacteria from sand onto overlying water. Overall PNA CISH provides a reliable rapid method for beach monitoring. The implications of beach topography and sampling time on the numbers of Clostridium perfringens and other potential indicators are discussed. Data suggest a revision of policy for tropical sandy beaches.
Identifier: 9780496233663 (isbn), 13117 (digitool), FADT13117 (IID), fau:9980 (fedora)
Note(s): Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2004.
Subject(s): Coastal zone management
Coastal ecology
Sand dune ecology
Beaches
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13117
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.