Daily relative dog abundance, fecal density, and loading rates on intensively and minimally managed dog-friendly beaches in central California

Oates, Stori C.; Miller, Melissa A.; Hardin, Dane; Dominik, Clare; Jessup, David A.; Smith, Woutrina A.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.062

Cited by 9 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Using the median urban pond size in the United Kingdom of 293.4 m 2 and a maximum depth of 1.4 m (Glendhill et al ., Gledhill et al ., 2008), ~18 kg of dog faeces would be required to achieve the 1× concentration (0.092 g/l) used in this study. This equates to roughly 41 small dogs/day or 13 larger dogs/day over 3 days (Ellis, 2004; Oates et al ., 2017). These estimates drop when considering only the volume of water within a 5 m littoral zone around the pond (31 small dogs/day over 3 days or 10 large dogs/day over 3 days).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While to some members of the public uncollected dog waste may not seem like a relevant problem, to others the impact it has on public spaces is already well known. Every year hundreds of kilograms of dried dog waste ( e.g ., Walker & Garfield, 2008) is often found uncollected in urban parks and along trails and beaches, translating to potentially thousands of kilograms of faecal loading per year (Oates et al ., 2017). As at least a partial result public beaches, ponds and streams increasingly test higher for faecal coliform bacteria than the standard safe levels for human recreational use (Oates et al ., 2017; Serrano & DeLorenzo, 2008) and toxic algal blooms containing compounds such as microcystins and botulinum have become a more frequent occurrence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Every year hundreds of kilograms of dried dog waste ( e.g ., Walker & Garfield, 2008) is often found uncollected in urban parks and along trails and beaches, translating to potentially thousands of kilograms of faecal loading per year (Oates et al ., 2017). As at least a partial result public beaches, ponds and streams increasingly test higher for faecal coliform bacteria than the standard safe levels for human recreational use (Oates et al ., 2017; Serrano & DeLorenzo, 2008) and toxic algal blooms containing compounds such as microcystins and botulinum have become a more frequent occurrence. Despite the potentially direct ecological and economic repercussions (Carpenter et al ., 1998), this study showed for the first time the impact that the global dog waste management problem can have on aquatic communities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using the median urban pond size in the United Kingdom of 293.4 m 2 and a maximum depth of 1.4 m (Glendhill et al, Gledhill et al, 2008),~18 kg of dog faeces would be required to achieve the 1× concentration (0.092 g/l) used in this study. This equates to roughly 41 small dogs/ day or 13 larger dogs/day over 3 days (Ellis, 2004;Oates et al, 2017).…”

Section: Real-world Relevancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Exposure to a common urban pollutant affects the survival and swimming behaviour of creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)

Bunt¹,

Jacobson²

2021

Journal of Fish Biology

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Anthropogenic effects on the aquatic environment are ever present and ever increasing and while a plethora of aquatic contaminants are known to affect fishes, one ubiquitous and increasingly prevalent world-wide urban runoff pollutant is frequently disregarded, and that is pet waste. While dog waste has been identified as a significant factor contributing to bacteria and nutrient loading within receiving waters and the associated water quality changes are known to affect fishes, the impact of uncollected dog faeces on urban fish populations has never been directly investigated. In this study we exposed creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), a widespread tolerant stream minnow, to various realistic concentrations of dog waste as simulated urban park runoff testing both fresh and dried dog faeces in both stagnant and aerated water for 96 h to investigate the impact on fish survival and behaviour. Creek chub percentage mortality increased significantly relative to controls and across an exposure gradient and was likely caused by anoxic conditions. Survivors were initially smaller while those that died were initially larger and presented with abnormal abdominal subdermal lesions post-exposure. Additional indicators of physiological stress included significantly increased rates of aquatic surface respiration and changes in flume test derived swimming motivation metrics with increased exposure concentrations. Both mortality and behavioural responses were alleviated by aeration. Furthermore, trials with fresh and dried faeces differed only in time-to-death and swimming metrics where results from dried trials were similar to those from aerated experiments. Results demonstrated the impact that the global dog waste management problem can have on aquatic communities with effects on creek chub likely to be more severe for less pollution-tolerant species and also likely to be exacerbated under future scenarios that consider climate change and increased urbanization. K E Y W O R D S creek chub, dissolved oxygen, pet waste, physiological stress, urban pollution 1 | INTRODUCTION Anthropogenic effects on the aquatic environment are ever present and ever increasing with habitat destruction and fragmentation, releases of exotic species, and industrial, municipal and agricultural runoff all consequences of human actions and inaction. The negative impacts of human activities on aquatic populations are easily observed. Construction increases rates of shoreline erosion, dams disconnect

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Real-world Relevancementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Exposure to a common urban pollutant affects the survival and swimming behaviour of creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)

Bunt¹,

Jacobson²

2021

Journal of Fish Biology

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“…The visited beaches do not have adequate dumps for the collection of animal waste and there is no government plan for the final disposal; only guidance for disposal in domestic toilets. In Californian beaches, where dogs are allowed, a study determined that feces from dogs, which are not collected, are likely to contribute significantly to fecal contamination (Oates et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasites with zoonotic potential in pets feces on the beaches of greater Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Bricarello¹,

Silva²,

Oliveira³

et al. 2020

Braz. J. Vet. Res. Anim. Sci.

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In Brazil, dogs and cats have free access in public areas in some cities, such as squares, parks and beaches, despite restrictive laws for their permanence in these places. Animals infected with intestinal parasites contaminate the environment through their feces. The present study aimed to verify the occurrence of helminth eggs, oocysts and protozoan cysts in stool samples from three beaches in Greater Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, from March 2017 to April 2018. Stool samples were processed by the Willis-Mollay flotation technique and the Hoffman sedimentation technique. The percentage of 47.65% of positive samples for helminths or protozoa was found on the southern beaches of Florianópolis island, with an occurrence of 52.78% at Morro das Pedras Beach and 42.86% at Campeche Beach. At Pinheira beach, in Palhoça, 56.66% of the samples were contaminated with one or more zoonotic parasites. In this study, the most prevalent parasites on the three beaches analyzed were hookworms and Trichuris vulpis, followed by Giardia spp. and Cystoisospora spp. Samples containing Toxocara spp. eggs were collected at Pinheira beach. It is concluded that the contamination of the beaches in the present study constitutes a public health problem, considering the possibility of zoonoses transmission. The importance of implementing sanitary programs for the control of parasites in dogs and cats is emphasized, as well as awareness and education programs, in order to reduce environmental contamination in public places.

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Nutrient fertilization by dogs in peri‐urban ecosystems

Frenne

Cougnon

Janssens

et al. 2022

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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(Semi‐)natural ecosystems provide many important benefits to nature and people, but are often located near populated and urbanized areas across the globe. During recreational activities, many people bring dogs into peri‐urban forests and nature, but their nutrient inputs per unit space and time via dog faeces and urine into ecosystems remain scarcely quantified. Here, we estimate net fertilization rates of dogs in peri‐urban ecosystems, with a focus on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) because of their evident effects on plant biodiversity. We used 487 direct‐count censuses over 1.5 years to collect accurate dog abundance data per hectare per year in four sites in peri‐urban forests and nature reserves in Belgium. Based on estimated dog densities and a systematic literature search of nutrient concentrations in urine and faeces, we calculate N and P fertilization rates from urine and faeces deposits, also propagating uncertainty and variability in these estimates. We find that canine N and P fertilization rates on average amount to 11 kg N (more or less equally from urine and faeces) and 5 kg P (predominantly from faeces) per hectare per year, respectively. These estimated amounts are substantial when compared to atmospheric inputs of N and extractable amounts via traditional nature management (e.g. mowing and hay removal). Our estimated dog N and P fertilization rates in peri‐urban forests and nature are substantial. Such levels of nutrient inputs may considerably influence biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and co‐determine restoration outcomes. Our results underpin the need for managers and policy makers to more often (i) consider currently neglected nutrient inputs by dogs in management plans and restoration goals, (ii) communicate to dog walkers the role of their dog as ‘fertilizer’ and highlight the necessity to remove at least canine solid faecal waste, (iii) in sensitive oligotrophic ecosystems with species adapted to nutrient‐poor soils, establish nearby off‐leash dog parks, enforce the use of short leashes and/or apply dog bans such that high dog abundances can be avoided.

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Daily relative dog abundance, fecal density, and loading rates on intensively and minimally managed dog-friendly beaches in central California

Cited by 9 publications

References 22 publications

Exposure to a common urban pollutant affects the survival and swimming behaviour of creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)

Exposure to a common urban pollutant affects the survival and swimming behaviour of creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)

Parasites with zoonotic potential in pets feces on the beaches of greater Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Nutrient fertilization by dogs in peri‐urban ecosystems

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