Authors / CoAuthors
Gibb, K. | Kaestli, M. | Smith, J. | McGuinness, K.
Abstract
Changes in microbial diversity and population structure occur as a result of increased nutrient loads and knowledge of microbial community composition may be a useful tool for assessing water quality in coastal ecosystems. However, the ability to understand how microbial communities and individual species respond to increased nutrient loads is limited by the paucity of community-level microbial data. The microbial community composition in the water column and sediments was measured across tropical tidal creeks and the relationship with increased nutrient loads assessed by comparing sewage-impacted and non-impacted sites. Diversity-function relationships were examined with a focus on denitrification and the presence of pathogens typically associated with sewage effluent tested. Significant relationships were found between the microbial community composition and nutrient loads. Species richness, diversity and evenness in the water column all increased in response to increased nutrient loads, but there was no clear pattern in microbial community diversity in the sediments. Water column bacteria also reflected lower levels of denitrification at the sewage-impacted sites. The genetic diversity of pathogens indicated that more analysis would be required to verify their status as pathogens, and to develop tests for monitoring. This study highlights how microbial communities respond to sewage nutrients in a tropical estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Product Type
nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
77483
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Custodian
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
Keywords
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- External PublicationScientific Journal Paper
- ( Theme )
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- marine
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- NT
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Ecosystem Function
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- Published_Internal
Publication Date
2013-09-09T00:00:00
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notPlanned
Topic Category
environment
Series Information
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Unknown
Parent Information
Extents
[-13.0, -12.0, 130.5, 131.5]
Reference System
Spatial Resolution
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Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science