title: Spatial and temporal microbial pollution patterns in a tropical estuary during high and low river flow conditions.
abstract: Spatial and temporal patterns of coastal microbial pollution are not well documented. Our study examined these patterns through measurements of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), nutrients, and physiochemical parameters in Hilo Bay, Hawai'i, during high and low river flow. >40% of samples tested positive for the human-associated Bacteroides marker, with highest percentages near rivers. Other FIB were also higher near rivers, but only Clostridium perfringens concentrations were related to discharge. During storms, FIB concentrations were three times to an order of magnitude higher, and increased with decreasing salinity and water temperature, and increasing turbidity. These relationships and high spatial resolution data for these parameters were used to create Enterococcus spp. and C. perfringens maps that predicted exceedances with 64% and 95% accuracy, respectively. Mapping microbial pollution patterns and predicting exceedances is a valuable tool that can improve water quality monitoring and aid in visualizing FIB hotspots for management actions.
authors.affiliation: Marine Science Department. University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, United States. Electronic address: wiegner@hawaii.edu.
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Wiegner
authors.affiliation: Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Graduate Program, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, United States. Electronic address: caree@hawaii.edu.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Edens
authors.affiliation: Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Graduate Program, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, United States. Electronic address: labaya@hawaii.edu.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Abaya
authors.affiliation: Marine Science Department, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720, United States. Electronic address: kaileac@hawaii.edu.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.affiliation: Amber Lyon-Colbert, M.S., Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA 94542, United States. Electronic address: lyoncola@oregonstate.edu.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lyon-Colbert
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA 94542, United States. Electronic address: smolloy@naplesgov.com.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Molloy
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria; D001439:Bacteroides; D016983:Enterococcus; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D045483:Rivers / Q000382:microbiology*; D054712:Salinity; D014871:Water Microbiology; D060753:Water Quality
keywords: Estuary; Fecal indicator bacteria; Hawai'i; Mapping; Spatial and temporal patterns; Storms