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Publication
Gulls identified as major source of fecal pollution in coastal waters: A microbial source tracking study
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Gulls were reported as sources of fecal pollution in coastal environments and potential vectors of human
infections. Microbial source tracking (MST) methods were rarely tested to identify this pollution origin. This
study was conducted to ascertain the source of water fecal contamination in the Berlenga Island, Portugal. A
total of 169 Escherichia coli isolates from human sewage, 423 isolates from gull feces and 334 water isolates
were analyzed by BOX-PCR. An average correct classification of 79.3% was achieved. When an 85% similarity
cutoff was applied 24% of water isolates were present in gull feces against 2.7% detected in sewage. Jackknifing resulted in 29.3% of water isolates classified as gull, and 10.8% classified as human. Results indicate that gulls constitute a major source of water contamination in the Berlenga Island. This study validated a methodology to differentiate human and gull fecal pollution sources in a real case of a contaminated beach.
Description
Acknowledgments : Authors are grateful to Ricardo Nunes and Cátia Velez for assistance on sampling. The Portuguese Foundation for Scientific and Technology (FCT) supported this study through the project (PTDC/AAC-AMB/109155/2008–FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-008640) also supported by FEDER funding through COMPETE — Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade. FCT also financed the fellowships of A Pereira (SFRH/BPD/26685/2006). I Henriques received an individual Research Assistant contract within the project Sustainable Use of Marine Resources — MARES (CENTRO-07-ST24-FEDER-002033), co-financed by QREN (Mais Centro — Programa Operacional Regional do Centro) and FEDER. A Alves was supported by the programme Ciência 2008, co-funded by the Human Potential Operational Programme (National Strategic Reference Framework 2007–2013) and European Social Fund (EU). FCT funding through CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies) is also acknowledged.
Keywords
Fecal pollution Gulls Public health Microbial source tracking Escherichia coli BOX-PCR
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Susana Araújo, Isabel S. Henriques, Sérgio Miguel Leandro, Artur Alves, Anabela Pereira, António Correia, Gulls identified as major source of fecal pollution in coastal waters: A microbial source tracking study, Science of The Total Environment, Volumes 470–471, 2014, Pages 84-91, ISSN 0048-9697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.09.075
Publisher
Elsevier