title: Microbial water quality of the Georgian coastal zone of the Black Sea.
abstract: From 2006 to 2008, microbial water quality was monitored along the Georgian coast of the Black Sea. Temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured, along with a variety of aquatic microbial parameters, including heterotrophic plate count (HPC), total culturable bacterial count (TCBC), and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration. Total and fecal coliforms and total enterococci counts were recorded as indicators of fecal pollution. Vibrio bacteria, and Escherichia coli- and Vibrio-specific bacteriophages were isolated and enumerated to determine their relationships to standard marine pollution indicators. Persistent microbial pollution was observed, particularly in the summer months, with a higher rate of contamination in estuaries. Microbial indicators generally showed seasonal dependence, suggesting that temperature may influence bacterial dynamics in this environment. No correlation was apparent between fecal pollution indicators and physical-chemical and aquatic microbial parameters, although there were significant relationships amongst the indicators themselves, as well as with the prevalence of Vibrio bacteria and phage.
authors.affiliation: George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Microbiology and Virology, 3 Gotua Street, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Janelidze
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jaiani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lashkhi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tskhvediani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kokashvili
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gvarishvili
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jgenti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mikashavidze
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diasamidze
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narodny
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Obiso
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huq
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tediashvili
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D059038:Black Sea; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005846:Georgia (Republic); D010933:Plankton / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A