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The presence of Enterococci bacteria is commonly used as an indicator of fecal contamination in waterways. Higher enterococci levels usually indicate fecal pollution, but there are various environmental factors that play a role in the persistence and spatial distribution of these bacteria. Past water quality research in Tampa Bay has primarily focused on assessing recreational water safety and environmental health, but there are few studies that use the data to investigate how environmental variables such as aquatic vegetation can affect the concentrations of enterococci bacteria. This study evaluates whether there is a relationship between enterococci levels and seagrass populations across sampling sites in the Tampa Bay watershed. The main method that was explored was using a GIS map to plot bacteria levels from certain locations layered on top of a seagrass population map. The correlation that has been found between overall seagrass populations and enterococci levels is an important finding in how we look at marine ecosystems in the Tampa Bay area. As the population changes for seagrass, we can see a similar response in the levels of enterococci bacteria levels. These also give room for other research in the potential causes for this correlation that is seen.
College
FWC
Mentor Information
Jordan Grard
Description
The presence of Enterococci bacteria is commonly used as an indicator of fecal contamination in waterways. Higher enterococci levels usually indicate fecal pollution, but there are various environmental factors that play a role in the persistence and spatial distribution of these bacteria. Past water quality research in Tampa Bay has primarily focused on assessing recreational water safety and environmental health, but there are few studies that use the data to investigate how environmental variables such as aquatic vegetation can affect the concentrations of enterococci bacteria. This study evaluates whether there is a relationship between enterococci levels and seagrass populations across sampling sites in the Tampa Bay watershed. The main method that was explored was using a GIS map to plot bacteria levels from certain locations layered on top of a seagrass population map. The correlation that has been found between overall seagrass populations and enterococci levels is an important finding in how we look at marine ecosystems in the Tampa Bay area. As the population changes for seagrass, we can see a similar response in the levels of enterococci bacteria levels. These also give room for other research in the potential causes for this correlation that is seen.
Correlation of Enterococci and Seagrass Population in Tampa Bay
The presence of Enterococci bacteria is commonly used as an indicator of fecal contamination in waterways. Higher enterococci levels usually indicate fecal pollution, but there are various environmental factors that play a role in the persistence and spatial distribution of these bacteria. Past water quality research in Tampa Bay has primarily focused on assessing recreational water safety and environmental health, but there are few studies that use the data to investigate how environmental variables such as aquatic vegetation can affect the concentrations of enterococci bacteria. This study evaluates whether there is a relationship between enterococci levels and seagrass populations across sampling sites in the Tampa Bay watershed. The main method that was explored was using a GIS map to plot bacteria levels from certain locations layered on top of a seagrass population map. The correlation that has been found between overall seagrass populations and enterococci levels is an important finding in how we look at marine ecosystems in the Tampa Bay area. As the population changes for seagrass, we can see a similar response in the levels of enterococci bacteria levels. These also give room for other research in the potential causes for this correlation that is seen.
