Widespread detection of human- and ruminant-origin Bacteroidales markers in subtidal waters of the Salish Sea in Washington State

Abstract

Rising populations around coastal systems are increasing the threats to marine water quality. To assess anthropogenic fecal influence, subtidal waters were examined monthly for human- and ruminant-sourced Bacteroidales markers at 80 sites across six oceanographic basins of the Salish Sea (Washington State) from April through October, 2011. In the basins containing cities with individual populations>190,000, >50% of sites were positive for the human marker, while in the basins with high densities of dairy and cattle operations, ∼30% of sites were positive for the ruminant marker. Marker prevalence was elevated in spring (April and May) and fall (October) and reduced during summer (June through September), corresponding with seasonal precipitation. By logistic regression, the odds of human marker detection increased with percentage of adjacent catchment impervious surface, dissolved nitrate concentration, and abundance of low nucleic acid bacteria, but decreased with salinity and chlorophyll fluorescence. The odds of ruminant marker detection increased with dissolved ammonium concentration, mean flow rate for the nearest river, and adjacent shoreline length. These relationships are consistent with terrestrial to marine water flow as a transport mechanism. Thus, Bacteroidales markers traditionally used for identifying nearby sources can be used for assessing anthropogenic fecal inputs to regional marine ecosystems.

Seawater drowning-associated pneumonia: a 10-year descriptive cohort in intensive care unit

“…Accidental bacterial flora constituted by fecal contamination has been frequently described in seawater [ 23 ], and this contamination could explain the bacterial findings. French local authorities are therefore frequently compelled to specifically quantify this flora as a marker of marine pollution, but their analysis mainly focuses on microorganisms of interest to reflect human fecal pollution ( Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp.).…”

“…Bacteriological criteria could not always be used because respiratory samples were not systematically collected. Diagnosis of ARDS was made according to the 2012 Berlin definition [ 22 ] and based on the American and European Consensus Conference on ARDS prior to 2012 [ 23 ].…”

Stable isotope‐based trophic structure of pelagic fish and jellyfish across natural and anthropogenic landscape gradients in a fjord estuary

“…() and Oyafuso et al. (). Community attributes of zooplankton, collected from each site (see Table and Appendix S3 for sampling methodology), were also included to give insights into the influence of lower trophic levels.…”

“…The degree of anthropogenic influence also varies among basins. Central basin and parts of South Sound are highly urbanized and have experienced significant alteration through shoreline modification (Simenstad et al., ; Toft, Cordell, Simenstad, & Stamatiou, ) as well as runoff (Newton, Anderson, van Voorhis, Maloy, & Siegel, ; Oyafuso et al., ). Other basins (Whidbey and Rosario) have been less developed but have significant agricultural areas in their catchments.…”