Blooms of Dinoflagellate Mixotrophs in a Lower Chesapeake Bay Tributary: Carbon and Nitrogen Uptake over Diurnal,Seasonal, and Interannual Timescales

A multi-year study was conducted in the eutrophic Lafayette River, a sub-tributary of the lower Chesapeake Bay during which uptake of inorganic and organic nitrogen (N) and C compounds was measured during multiple seasons and years when different dinoflagellate species were dominant. Seasonal dinoflagellate blooms included a variety of mixotrophic dinoflagellates including Heterocapsa triquetra in the late winter, Prorocentrum minimum in the spring, Akashiwo sanguinea in the early summer, and Scrippsiella trochoidea and Cochlodinium polykrikoides in late summer and fall. Results showed that no single N source fueled algal growth, rather rates of N and C uptake varied on seasonal and diurnal timescales, and within blooms as they initiated and developed. Rates of photosynthetic C uptake were low yielding low assimilation numbers during much of the study period and the ability to assimilate dissolved organic carbon augmented photosynthetic C uptake during bloom and non-bloom periods. The ability to use dissolved organic C during the day and night may allow mixotrophic bloom organisms a competitive advantage over co-occurring phytoplankton that are restricted to photoautotrophic growth, obtaining N and C during the day and in well-lit surface waters.     

Long-Term Variability of Nutrients and Chlorophyll in the Chesapeake Bay: A Retrospective Analysis, 1985–2008

A retrospective analysis of freshwater discharge, riverine dissolved nutrient loads, dissolved nutrients, and chlorophyll in the Chesapeake Bay from 1985 to 2008 is presented. It is evident that each field displays an interannual variability averaged over the Bay. The N and P loads peaked in 1997 and have fluctuated with a decreasing trend since early 2004. Dissolved nutrient concentrations in the Bay appear to be largely controlled by riverine nutrient loads. The temporal variability of chlorophyll is positively correlated with nutrient loads and concentrations. Over the study period, N:P (DIN:DIP) molar ratios were consistently higher than the Redfield ratio (N:P?=?16:1) and strongly correlated with river discharge (R ²?=?0.68, p??16:1), and N is the limiting nutrient in summer and early autumn (N:P?4 from anoxic sediments. Long-term climate indices, such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), appear to exert only a moderate control over the riverine discharge to the Bay or over the ecosystem response in terms of chlorophyll in the Bay. While not all related mechanisms can be inferred from available data, this analysis should help in determining future data needs for monitoring water quality and human and climate influence on the health of the Bay.     

Long-Term Trends of Nutrients and Phytoplankton in Chesapeake Bay

Climate effects on hydrology impart high variability to water-quality properties, including nutrient loadings, concentrations, and phytoplankton biomass as chlorophyll-a (chl-a), in estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Resolving long-term trends of these properties requires that we distinguish climate effects from secular changes reflecting anthropogenic eutrophication. Here, we test the hypothesis that strong climatic contrasts leading to irregular dry and wet periods contribute significantly to interannual variability of mean annual values of water-quality properties using in situ data for Chesapeake Bay. Climate effects are quantified using annual freshwater discharge from the Susquehanna River together with a synoptic climatology for the Chesapeake Bay region based on predominant sea-level pressure patterns. Time series of water-quality properties are analyzed using historical (1945–1983) and recent (1984–2012) data for the bay adjusted for climate effects on hydrology. Contemporary monitoring by the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) provides data for a period since mid-1984 that is significantly impacted by anthropogenic eutrophication, while historical data back to 1945 serve as historical context for a period prior to severe impairments. The generalized additive model (GAM) and the generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) are developed for nutrient loadings and concentrations (total nitrogen—TN, nitrate?+?nitrate—NO₂?+?NO₃) at the Susquehanna River and water-quality properties in the bay proper, including dissolved nutrients (NO₂?+?NO₃, orthophosphate—PO₄), chl-a, diffuse light attenuation coefficient (K _D (PAR)), and chl-a/TN. Each statistical model consists of a sum of nonlinear functions to generate flow-adjusted time series and compute long-term trends accounting for climate effects on hydrology. We present results identifying successive periods of (1) eutrophication ca. 1945–1980 characterized by approximately doubled TN and NO₂?+?NO₃ loadings, leading to increased chl-a and associated ecosystem impairments, and (2) modest decreases of TN and NO₂?+?NO₃ loadings from 1981 to 2012, signaling a partial reversal of nutrient over-enrichment. Comparison of our findings with long-term trends of water-quality properties for a variety of estuarine and coastal ecosystems around the world reveals that trends for Chesapeake Bay are weaker than for other systems subject to strenuous management efforts, suggesting that more aggressive actions than those undertaken to date will be required to counter anthropogenic eutrophication of this valuable resource.     

Relationships Between Long-Term Trend of Satellite-Derived Chlorophyll-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> and Hypoxia Off the Changjiang Estuary

The Changjiang Estuary is one of the largest estuaries in the world, where hypoxia frequently occurs during the summer season. Recent routine surveys in the observed area found that the low dissolved oxygen (DO) in the summer bottom water was not rapidly expanding with increasing nutrient loads in Changjiang diluted waters. Based on the remote sensing data and in situ data, we examined the historic seasonal hypoxia observations for the bottom waters of the Changjiang Estuary and investigated the short- and long-term effects that runoff had on variations in DO and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a). Our analysis indicated that the recent areal variation in hypoxia was due to the changing Chl-a distribution and stratification conditions. The correspondence between hypoxia and surface Chl-a concentration showed that remotely sensed Chl-a larger than 3.0 mg L^?1 was an essential condition for the formation of hypoxia off the Changjiang Estuary. The trend of Chl-a concentration was significantly impacted by the Three Gorges Dam (TGD), and the inter-annual variation of Chl-a was weakly affected by global-scale climate variability. After the TGD impoundment, the sediment loading in the Changjiang runoff and suspended sediments in Changjiang Estuary in August decreased, and the high Chl-a concentration moved landward. These shifted the hypoxia from its optimal forming conditions.     

Effects of common reed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis>) expansions on nitrogen dynamics of tidal marshes of the northeastern U.S.

Several recent studies indicate that the replacement of extant species withPhragmites australis can alter the size of nitrogen (N) pools and fluxes within tidal marshes. Some common effects ofP. australis expansion are increased standing stocks of N, greater differentiation of N concentrations between plant tissues (high N leaves and low N stems), and slower whole-plant decay rates than competing species (e.g.,Spartina, Typha spp.). Some of the greater differences between marsh types involveP. australis effects on extractable and porewater pools of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and N mineralization rates. Brackish and salt marshes show higher concentrations of DIN in porewater beneathSpartina spp. relative toP. australis, but this is not observed in freshwater tidal marshes whenP. australis is compared withTypha spp. or mixed plant assemblages. With few studies of concurrent N fluxes, the net effect ofP. australis on marsh N budgets is difficult to quantify for single sites and even more so between sites. The magnitude and direction of impacts ofP. australis on N cycles appears to be system-specific, driven more by the system and species being invaded than byP. australis itself. WhereP. australis is found to affect N pools and fluxes, we suggest these alterations result from increased biomass (both aboveground and belowground) and increased allocation of that biomass to recalcitrant stems. Because N pools are commonly greater inP. australis than in most other communities (due to plant and litter uptake), one of the most critical questions remaining is “From where is the extra N inP. australis communities coming?” It is important to determine if the source of the new N is imported (e.g., anthropogenic) or internallyproduced (e.g., fixed, remineralized organic matter). In order to estimate net impacts ofP. australis on marsh N budgets, we suggest that further research be focused on the N source that supports high standing stocks of N inP. australis biomass (external input versus internal cycling) and the relative rates of N loss from different marshes (burial versus subsurface flow versus denitrification).     

Land Use and Salinity Drive Changes in SAV Abundance and Community Composition

Conserving and restoring submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) are key management goals for estuaries worldwide because SAV integrates many aspects of water quality and provides a wide range of ecosystem services. Management strategies are typically focused on aggregated abundance of several SAV species, because species cannot be easily distinguished in remotely sensed data. Human land use and shoreline alteration have been shown to negatively impact SAV abundance, but the effects have varied with study, spatial scale, and location. The differences in reported effects may be partly due to the focus on abundance, which overlooks within-community and among-community dynamics that generate total SAV abundance. We analyzed long-term SAV aerial survey data (1984–2009) and ground observations of community composition (1984–2012) in subestuaries of Chesapeake Bay to integrate variations in abundance with differences in community composition. We identified five communities (mixed freshwater, milfoil-Zannichellia, mixed mesohaline, Zannichellia, and Ruppia-Zostera). Temporal variations in SAV abundance were more strongly related to community identity than to terrestrial stressors, and responses to stressors differed among communities and among species. In one fifth of the subestuaries, the community identity changed during the study, and the probability of such a change was positively related to the prevalence of riprapped shoreline in the subestuary. Mixed freshwater communities had the highest rates of recovery, and this may have been driven by Hydrilla verticillata, which was the single best predictor of SAV recovery rate. Additional species-specific and community-specific research will likely yield better understanding of the factors affecting community identity and SAV abundance, more accurate predictive models, and more effective management strategies.     

Diel vertical migration of zooplankton in contrasting habitats of the Chesapeake Bay

Two different habitats in the Chesapeake Bay were tested for the occurrence of diel vertical migration (DVM) by members of the zooplankton community. During July of 1997 diel samples were collected from Jones Creek, a small, protected, 3-m deep tidal gut, and a station in Hampton Roads, a 20-m deep, expansive section of the bay. Temperature, salinity, light penetration, water clarity, dissolved oxygen, total particulate nitrogen and carbon, chlorophyll concentration, and algal density were also determined for depth increments at these stations, ca. midday and midnight. Significant differences in zooplankton depth distribution occurred over the day at both stations. The calanoid copepod,Acartia tonsa, dominated the zooplankton community and the larger stages were strong migrators. Mysid shrimp, the largest sized crustaceans, displayed significant DVM at both stations. Although diel differences were also detected in chlorophylla concentrations, with 25% reduction at night in Jones Creek and 18% in Hampton Roads, counts of algal cells revealed no differences between night and day numbers. The nightly losses of chlorophyll were not driven by mesozooplankton grazers. Using grazing rates from the literature, we estimated that mesozooplankton harvested less than 5% of the standing crop of phytoplankton each day in both locations. Food quantity and quality (as determined by chlorophyll concentrations, cell counts, and C:N ratio) were uniform in the Jones Creek water column, but higher near the surface in Hampton Roads. While it was clearly advantageous for zooplankton to migrate to surface waters at night for feeding in Hampton Roads, it is paradoxical for DVM to persist in Jones Creek when ample food was found in deeper water.     

Effects of Local Shoreline and Subestuary Watershed Condition on Waterbird Community Integrity: Influences of Geospatial Scale and Season in the Chesapeake Bay

In many coastal regions throughout the world, there is increasing pressure to harden shorelines to protect human infrastructures against sea level rise, storm surge, and erosion. This study examines waterbird community integrity in relation to shoreline hardening and land use characteristics at three geospatial scales: (1) the shoreline scale characterized by seven shoreline types: bulkhead, riprap, developed, natural marsh, Phragmites-dominated marsh, sandy beach, and forest; (2) the local subestuary landscape scale including land up to 500 m inland of the shoreline; and (3) the watershed scale >500 m from the shoreline. From 2010 to 2014, we conducted waterbird surveys along the shoreline and open water within 21 subestuaries throughout the Chesapeake Bay during two seasons to encompass post-breeding shorebirds and colonial waterbirds in late summer and migrating and wintering waterfowl in late fall. We employed an Index of Waterbird Community Integrity (IWCI) derived from mean abundance of individual waterbird species and scores of six key species attributes describing each species’ sensitivity to human disturbance, and then used this index to characterize communities in each subestuary and season. IWCI scores ranged from 14.3 to 19.7. Multivariate regression model selection showed that the local shoreline scale had the strongest influence on IWCI scores. At this scale, percent coverage of bulkhead and Phragmites along shorelines were the strongest predictors of IWCI, both with negative relationships. Recursive partitioning revealed that when subestuary shoreline coverage exceeded thresholds of approximately 5% Phragmites or 8% bulkhead, IWCI scores decreased. Our results indicate that development at the shoreline scale has an important effect on waterbird community integrity, and that shoreline hardening and invasive Phragmites each have a negative effect on waterbirds using subestuarine systems.     

Atmospheric elemental abundances for the components of the multiple system ADS 11061. 41 Draconis

We obtained speckle interferometric and spectroscopic observations of the system 41 Dra during its periastron passage in 2001. The components’ lines are resolved in the spectral interval 3700–9200 Å. The observed wavelength dependence of the brightness difference between the components is used to estimate the B-V indices separately for each of the components: B-V = 0.511 for component a and B-V = 0.502 for component b. We derived improved effective temperatures of the components from their B-V values and hydrogen-line profiles. The observations can be described with the parameters for the components T _eff ^a = 6370 K, log g^a = 4.05 and T _eff ^b = 6410 K, log g^b = 4.20. The iron, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen abundances in the atmospheres of the components are log N(Fe)^a = 7.55, log N(Fe)^b = 7.60, log N(C)^a = 8.52, log N(C)^b = 8.58, log N(N)^a = 8.05, log N(N)^b = 7.99, log N(O)^a = 8.73, log N(O)^b = 8.76.     

Evaluation of Plecoptera (Insecta) community composition using multivariate technics in a biodiversity hotspot

Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey is a sub-ecoregion of the Caucasus Ecoregion, and its Plecoptera fauna is similar to fauna of Caucasus with unique endemic species of the region. The Caucasus Ecoregion is one of the “WWF Global 200 Ecoregions,” and it is also included in the list of top 25 hotspots in the World. Running water ecosystems of Eastern Black Sea sub-ecoregion are the most sensitive to land use change and global climate change. High-altitude aquatic ecosystems are more strongly threatened by global climate change in the region. Plecoptera constitute the most important part of the biodiversity of running waters in the region. Among the benthic macroinvertebrate taxa, Plecoptera is the best indicator of ecological conditions of running waters. The influence of environmental variables on the distribution of twenty Plecoptera species in running water ecosystems (headwaters, crenon, epirhithron, metarhithron) was assessed using canonical correspondence analysis. Sampling was carried out in 2009 and 2011. Eleven end groups were generated from the TWINSPAN analysis. Isoperla rhododendri, Isoperla grammatica, Protonemura bifida, Protonemura eumontana and Perla caucasica were closely related to pH, dissolved oxygen and riparian vegetation. Brachyptera transcaucasica transcaucasica, Nemoura martynovia, Nemoura taurica and Protonemura eumontana were related to Mg and Cu. The results show that the Plecoptera assemblage composition was affected by DO, pH, EC, temperature, nitrite, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Al, riparian vegetation, altitude and stream width.     

Biogeochemistry of a River-Dominated Estuary Influenced by Drought and Storms

Increased frequency and severity of droughts, as well as growing human freshwater demands, in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin are expected to lead to a long-term decrease in freshwater discharge to Apalachicola Bay (Florida). To date, no long-term studies have assessed how river discharge variability affects the Bay’s phytoplankton community. Here a 14-year time series was used to assess the influence of hydrologic variability on the biogeochemistry and phytoplankton biomass in Apalachicola Bay. Data were collected at 10 sites in the bay along the salinity gradient and include drought and storm periods. Riverine dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate inputs were correlated to river discharge, but chlorophyll a (Chl a) was similar between periods of drought and average/above-average river discharge in most of the Bay. Results suggest that the potentially negative impact of decreased riverine nutrient input on Bay phytoplankton biomass is mitigated by the nutrient buffering capacity of the estuary. Additionally, increased light availability, longer residence time, and decreased grazing pressures may allow more Chl a biomass to accumulate during drought. In contrast to droughts, tropical cyclones and subsequent increases in river discharge increased flushing and reduced light penetration, leading to reduced Chl a in the Bay. Analysis of the time series revealed that Chl a concentrations in the Bay do not directly mirror the effect of riverine nutrient input, which is masked by multiple interacting mechanisms (i.e., nutrient loading and retention, grazing, flushing, light penetration) that need to be considered when projecting the response of Bay Chl a to changes in freshwater input.     

Atmospheric chemical abundances of the components of the quadruple system ADS 11061. 40 Draconis

As part of our study of the components of the hierarchic quadruple system ADS 11061, we acquired spectroscopic observations of the binary 40 Dra. Echelle spectra showing the separation of the components’ lines were obtained in the spectral range 3700–9200 Å. Effective temperatures and surface gravities were derived for the components from BV photometry and the hydrogen-line profiles. The components of the 40 Dra system have parameters close to T _eff ^a = 6420 K, log g _a = 4.17, T _eff ^b = 6300 K, and log g _b = 4.20. We find the microturbulence velocity in the component atmospheres to be V _t = 2.6 km/s. The abundances of iron, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in the atmospheres of both components are estimated to be log N(Fe)^a = 7.50, log N(Fe)^b = 7.46, log N(C)^a = 8.39, log N(C)^b = 8.45, log N(N)^a = 8.12, log(N)^b = 8.15, log N(O)^a = 8.77, log N(O)^b = 8.74.     

Spatial and Temporal Variation in Brackish Wetland Seedbanks: Implications for Wetland Restoration Following <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites</Emphasis> Control

Chesapeake Bay tidal wetlands are experiencing a broad-scale, aggressive invasion by the non-native, clonal grass Phragmites australis. The grass is often managed with herbicides in efforts to restore native plant communities and wildlife habitat. Management efforts, however, can act as a disturbance, resulting in increased light availability, potentially fostering reinvasion from soil seedbanks. If native vegetation establishes quickly from seedbanks, the site should have greater resiliency against invasion, while disturbed sites where native plants do not rapidly establish may be rapidly colonized by P. australis. We surveyed the soil seedbank of three vegetation cover types in five Chesapeake Bay subestuaries: areas where P. australis had been removed, where P. australis was left intact, and with native, reference vegetation. We determined the total germination, the proportion of the seedbank that was attributable to invasive species, the richness, the functional diversity, and the overall composition of the seedbanks in each of the cover types (i.e., plots). After 2 years of herbicide treatment in the P. australis removal plots, vegetation cover type impacted the total germination or the proportion of invasive species in the seedbank. In contrast, we also found that seedbank functional composition in tidal brackish wetlands was not influenced by vegetation cover type in most cases. Instead, plots within a subestuary had similar seedbank functional composition across the years and were composed of diverse functional groups. Based on these findings, we conclude that plant community recovery following P. australis removal is not seed-limited, and any lack of native vegetation recruitment is likely the result of yet-to-be-determined abiotic factors. These diverse seedbanks could lead to resilient wetland communities that could resist invasions. However, due to the prevalence of undesirable species in the seedbank, passive revegetation following invasive plant removal may speed up their re-establishment. The need for active revegetation will need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure restoration goals are achieved.     

Biostratigraphy and depositional environment of the Miocene limestone bed of Baripada,Mayurbhanj district,Odisha: Foraminiferal,sedimentological and bulk organic geochemical evidences

Baripada Marine Beds (BMB) have been studied extensively in terms of its mega fossil content. However, not much has been discussed about the foraminiferal content and the organic matter assemblage in these beds. The fossiliferous sequence of BMB consists of sandstone, shale and limestone units. The present study is persued on the limestone unit of BMB. Foraminiferal, thin section and rock-eval pyrolysis studies were performed on the 33 surface samples collected from five sections of Jamdapal and Mukurmatia region along the Budhabalang river bank. Foraminifera are less abundant in the samples of Jamdapal, whereas Mukurmatia is comparatively rich. First appearance datum of Globorotalia menardii[ranges since middle Miocene (12.6 Ma); FAD at planktic foraminiferal zone N12] and last appearance datum of Neogloboquadrina continuosa [ranges between early Miocene (23.2 Ma) to late Miocene (8.3 Ma); FAD at planktic foraminiferal zone N4B and LAD at N16] together suggest that the limestone unit was deposited in between 12.6 to 8.3 Ma within the upper Miocene. Also, the association of shallow water benthic foraminifera (Species of Ammonia, Asterorotalia, Bolivina, Buliminella, Cibicides, Challengerella, Criboelphidium, Cribononion, Elphidium, Hanzawaia, Nonionella) and planktic foraminifera (Globigerina falcoensis, Globigerina woodi, Globorotalia menardii, Neogloboquadrina continuosa) together with oyster bank and shark teeth suggest deposition of limestone within well oxygenated, tropical, shallow water, open marine condition (within 40m water depth). Lithological and thin section studies together with global sea level fluctuation history advocate that upper Miocene marine transgression promoted the formation of this unit. Bulk organic geochemical data obtained by the rock-eval pyrolysis studies on selected samples indicate a low total organic carbon (TOC), with low hydrogen index (HI), high oxygen index (OI). The organic facies is characterised by type-IV kerogen with major contribution from near shore terrestrial plants. This also suggests deposition in shallow, oxygenated environments that did not promote significant accumulation and preservation of organic content in sediments.     

Isotopic and Elemental Composition of Marine Macrophytes as Biotracers of Nutrient Recycling Within a Coastal Lagoon in Baja California,Mexico

Nutrient sources of San Quintin Bay, a coastal lagoon affected by coastal upwelling off Baja California (Mexico), were traced using generalized additive (mixed) models (GAMM) to the stable nitrogen isotopic composition, C:N and N content of two co-occurring macrophytes (the macroalgae Ulva spp. and the seagrass Zostera marina). The geochemical tracers followed a spatial trend that partly responded to the long-term nutrient gradient from the ocean towards the interior of the bay. N content in Z. marina and Ulva spp. decreased linearly (while C:N increased) towards the middle section of the bay to concentration levels that indicate potential N limitation for growth. Concurrently midway into the bay (6–9 km), the δ¹⁵N of both macrophytes showed a gradual enrichment in ¹⁵N reflecting progressive denitrification. The spatial pattern of δ¹⁵N and the decrease in C:N of the macrophytes towards the innermost section of the bay indicated an additional nonoceanic source of dissolved nitrogen in this zone. The similarity of the δ¹⁵N pattern of Z. marina and Ulva spp. implies that their δ¹⁵N composition is mainly controlled by the availability of N, in spite of the physiological differences between taxa. A better fit of GAMM to N content and C:N was obtained for Z. marina than for Ulva spp. indicating that the former delineate more steadily and smoothly the influence of upwelling along the spatial gradient. Nonetheless, Ulva spp. may be analyzed in combination with Z. marina to characterize the environmental conditions at the time of sampling.     

Red Waters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrionecta rubra</Emphasis> are Biogeochemical Hotspots for the Columbia River Estuary with Impacts on Primary/Secondary Productions and Nutrient Cycles

The localized impact of blooms of the mixotrophic ciliate Myrionecta rubra in the Columbia River estuary during 2007–2010 was evaluated with biogeochemical, light microscopy, physiological, and molecular data. M. rubra affected surrounding estuarine nutrient cycles, as indicated by high and low concentrations of organic nutrients and inorganic nitrogen, respectively, associated with red waters. M. rubra blooms also altered the energy transfer pattern in patches of the estuarine water that contain the ciliate by creating areas characterized by high primary production and elevated levels of fresh autochthonous particulate organic matter, therefore shifting the trophic status in emergent red water areas of the estuary from net heterotrophy towards autotrophy. The pelagic estuarine bacterial community structure was unaffected by M. rubra abundance, but red waters of the ciliate do offer a possible link between autotrophic and heterotrophic processes since they were associated with elevated dissolved organic matter and showed a tendency for enhanced microbial secondary production. Taken together, these findings suggest that M. rubra red waters are biogeochemical hotspots of the Columbia River estuary.     

Review: Occurrence of the pathogenic amoeba <Emphasis Type="Italic">Naegleria fowleri</Emphasis> in groundwater

Naegleria fowleri is a thermophilic free-living amoeba found worldwide in soils and warm freshwater. It is the causative agent of primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a nearly always fatal disease afflicting mainly children and young adults. Humans are exposed to the organism via swimming, bathing, or other recreational activity during which water is forcefully inhaled into the upper nasal passages. Although many studies have looked at the occurrence of N. fowleri in surface waters, limited information is available regarding its occurrence in groundwater and geothermally heated natural waters such as hot springs. This paper reviews the current literature related to the occurrence of N. fowleri in these waters and the methods employed for its detection. Case reports of potential groundwater exposures are also included. Despite increased interest in N. fowleri in recent years due to well-publicized cases linked to drinking water, many questions still remain unanswered. For instance, why the organism persists in some water sources and not in others is not well understood. The role of biofilms in groundwater wells and plumbing in individual buildings, and the potential for warming due to climate change to expand the occurrence of the organism into new regions, are still unclear. Additional research is needed to address these questions in order to better understand the ecology of N. fowleri and the conditions that result in greater risks to bathers.     

Phytoplankton Spatial Variability in the River-Dominated Estuary,Apalachicola Bay,Florida

In shallow estuaries with strong river influence, the short residence time and pronounced gradients generate an environment for plankton that differs substantially in its dynamics from that of the open ocean, and the question arises “How is phytoplankton biomass affected?” This study assesses the small-scale spatial and temporal distribution of phytoplankton in Apalachicola Bay, a shallow bar-built estuary in the Florida Panhandle. Phytoplankton peaks were characterized to gain insights into the processes affecting spatial heterogeneity in biomass. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) distribution at 50-m spatial resolution was mapped using a flow-through sensor array, Dataflow©, operated from a boat that sampled four transects across the bay every 2 weeks for 16 months. Chl a peaks exceeding background concentrations had an average width of 1.3?±?0.7 km delineated by an average gradient of 3.0?±?6.0 μg Chl a L^?1 km^?1. Magnitude of E-W wind, velocity of N-S wind, tidal stage, and temperature affected peak characteristics. Phytoplankton contained in the peaks contributed 7.7?±?2.7% of the total integrated biomass observed along the transects during the study period. The river plume front was frequently a location of elevated Chl a, which shifted in response to river discharge. The results demonstrate that despite the shallow water column, river flushing, and strong wind and tidal mixing, distinct patchiness develops that should be taken into consideration in ecological studies and when assessing productivity of such ecosystems.     

Land-use-mediated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> concentrations in a contemporary Appalachian watershed

A high-spatial resolution study design was used to investigate the relationship between land use practices, stream physicochemistry, hydroclimate, and stream Escherichia (E) coli concentrations in a mixed-land-use watershed in the Appalachian region. Stream samples were collected daily from six monitoring sites and analyzed for total E. coli counts using an enzyme metabolism indicator method. Statistical comparison of E. coli concentration time series showed significant (p?<?0.05) differences between study sites. Although highest average E. coli concentrations were observed at two agricultural sites (534 and 582 colony-forming counts (CFU) per 100 mL, respectively), highest total loadings were observed within the receiving stream, with values increasing downstream (2?×?10¹² and 4.2?×?10¹² study total CFU for bracketed upstream and downstream sites, respectively). No single physical variable displayed a significant correlation (p?<?0.05) with observed E. coli concentration at every site. However, sites displayed different patterns of significant correlations (p?<?0.05) between E. coli concentration and both physicochemical (e.g. pH, dissolved oxygen saturation) and hydroclimate variables (e.g. streamflow and precipitation). Percent agricultural land cover was the only land use category that showed significant (p?<?0.04) correlation with study average E. coli concentrations, thereby emphasizing the importance of land use practices to stream pathogen regimes. Results validate the analytical method and provide high-resolution, detailed, quantitative characterizations of stream E. coli regimes, thereby supplying land and water resource managers with science-based information to advance management decisions and improve public health.