TY - JOUR
T1 - The green alga, Cladophora, promotes Escherichia coli growth and contamination of recreational waters in Lake Michigan
AU - Heuvel, Amy Vanden
AU - McDermott, Colleen
AU - Pillsbury, Robert
AU - Sandrin, Todd
AU - Kinzelman, Julie
AU - Ferguson, John
AU - Sadowsky, Michael
AU - Byappanahalli, Muruleedhara
AU - Whitman, Richard
AU - Kleinheinz, Gregory T.
PY - 2010/1/1
Y1 - 2010/1/1
N2 - A linkage between Cladophora mats and exceedances of recreational water quality criteria has been suggested, but not directly studied. Th is study investigates the spatial and temporal association between Escherichia coli concentrations within and near Cladophora mats at two northwestern Lake Michigan beaches in Door County, Wisconsin. Escherichia coli concentrations in water underlying mats were significantly greater than surrounding water (p < 0.001). Below mat E. coli increased as the stranded mats persisted at the beach swash zone. Water adjacent to Cladophora mats had lower E. coli concentrations, but surpassed EPA swimming criteria the majority of sampling days. A signifi cant positive association was found between E. coli concentrations attached to Cladophora and in underlying water (p < 0.001). The attached E. coli likely acted as a reservoir for populating water underlying the mat. Fecal bacterial pathogens, however, could not be detected by microbiological culture methods either attached to mat biomass or in underlying water. Removal of Cladophora mats from beach areas may improve aesthetic and microbial water quality at affected beaches. These associations and potential natural growth of E. coli in bathing waters call into question the efficacy of using E. coli as a recreational water quality indicator of fecal contaminations.
AB - A linkage between Cladophora mats and exceedances of recreational water quality criteria has been suggested, but not directly studied. Th is study investigates the spatial and temporal association between Escherichia coli concentrations within and near Cladophora mats at two northwestern Lake Michigan beaches in Door County, Wisconsin. Escherichia coli concentrations in water underlying mats were significantly greater than surrounding water (p < 0.001). Below mat E. coli increased as the stranded mats persisted at the beach swash zone. Water adjacent to Cladophora mats had lower E. coli concentrations, but surpassed EPA swimming criteria the majority of sampling days. A signifi cant positive association was found between E. coli concentrations attached to Cladophora and in underlying water (p < 0.001). The attached E. coli likely acted as a reservoir for populating water underlying the mat. Fecal bacterial pathogens, however, could not be detected by microbiological culture methods either attached to mat biomass or in underlying water. Removal of Cladophora mats from beach areas may improve aesthetic and microbial water quality at affected beaches. These associations and potential natural growth of E. coli in bathing waters call into question the efficacy of using E. coli as a recreational water quality indicator of fecal contaminations.
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U2 - 10.2134/jeq2009.0152
DO - 10.2134/jeq2009.0152
M3 - Article
C2 - 20048321
AN - SCOPUS:75149158373
SN - 0047-2425
VL - 39
SP - 333
EP - 344
JO - Journal of Environmental Quality
JF - Journal of Environmental Quality
IS - 1
ER -