Tidal fluctuations influence E. coli concentrations in urban estuaries. Issue 1 (15th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jovanovic, Dusan; Coleman, Rhys; Deletic, Ana; McCarthy, David T.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 119:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 230
• Publication Date: 2017-06-15
• Subjects: Tidal stage -- Water level -- Tidal currents -- Flow velocity -- Pathogens -- Distribution; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.04.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigated the influence of water level and velocity on Escherichia coli levels over multiple tidal cycles in an urban microtidal estuary in Melbourne, Australia. Over 3, 500 E . coli samples and high resolution water level and velocity measurements from two locations within the estuary were used for the analysis. E . coli negatively correlated with water level in the upper estuary which was proposed to be linked to increased resuspension of estuarine sediments during low tide. No relationship was found in the lower estuary, likely due to wet weather inputs dwarfing subtler tidal-related processes. Removal of wet weather data enabled significant relationships to emerge in the lower estuary: 1) positive with water level (when a 9-h shift applied corresponding to the phase shift between water levels and velocities) and; 2) positive with velocity (no shift applied). This supports a link between increased E . coli levels and tidal-related resuspension.