High fecal indicator bacteria in temperate headwater streams at baseflow: implications for management and public health
Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in rivers and streams serve as key markers of public health risks, but factors influencing spatiotemporal FIB variation in headwater streams at baseflow have received insufficient attention. We analyzed a 12-year dataset of FIB concentrations collected from 118 watersh...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Water Research X |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589914725000465 |
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| author | Daniel T. Myers Laura Zgleszewski Raven Bier Jacob R. Price Shane Morgan John K. Jackson Diana Oviedo-Vargas Melinda Daniels David B. Arscott Jinjun Kan |
| author_facet | Daniel T. Myers Laura Zgleszewski Raven Bier Jacob R. Price Shane Morgan John K. Jackson Diana Oviedo-Vargas Melinda Daniels David B. Arscott Jinjun Kan |
| author_sort | Daniel T. Myers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in rivers and streams serve as key markers of public health risks, but factors influencing spatiotemporal FIB variation in headwater streams at baseflow have received insufficient attention. We analyzed a 12-year dataset of FIB concentrations collected from 118 watersheds in the Delaware River Basin of the eastern United States across seasons to establish baseline conditions and investigate how landscape (watershed size and land cover) and in-stream (e.g., temperature and particulates) environmental variables relate to spatiotemporal FIB variations. We found that most probable number (MPN)-derived FIB levels in baseflow at 86 % to 96 % of sites (for Escherichia coli and Enterococcus, respectively) were above human health regulatory limits for primary contact during the recreational season. Variables affecting FIB dynamics included watershed size, seasonal variations in stream temperature, total particulate carbon and nitrogen in the water, and land cover types – specifically, the relative extent of forested, developed, and agricultural areas. Based on watershed size, smaller headwaters contained higher recreational period FIB concentrations than larger rivers. Headwater FIB concentrations were related to land cover, with lower concentrations observed in forested watersheds, and higher concentrations in developed and agricultural watersheds. Microbial source tracking suggested that FIB originated from human and bovine sources in headwaters with developed or agricultural land cover. FIB levels tended to be lower in non-recreational seasons (winter, spring, and fall) in small headwater streams. In addition to human, cow and other animals, we speculate that FIB survival and turnover in local environments might also cause FIB occurrence. These findings help guide choices of indicators to address fecal contamination of rivers and streams and prioritize restorative actions at the landscape scale. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d3f81a8443b9492988e98376aafe98ea |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2589-9147 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Research X |
| spelling | doaj-art-d3f81a8443b9492988e98376aafe98ea2025-08-20T01:48:37ZengElsevierWater Research X2589-91472025-12-012910034710.1016/j.wroa.2025.100347High fecal indicator bacteria in temperate headwater streams at baseflow: implications for management and public healthDaniel T. Myers0Laura Zgleszewski1Raven Bier2Jacob R. Price3Shane Morgan4John K. Jackson5Diana Oviedo-Vargas6Melinda Daniels7David B. Arscott8Jinjun Kan9Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311, USAStroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311, USASavannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802, USAStroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311, USA; Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USAWhite Clay Wild and Scenic River, P.O. Box 10, Landenberg, PA 19350, USAStroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311, USAStroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311, USAStroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311, USAStroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311, USAStroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311, USA; Corresponding author.Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in rivers and streams serve as key markers of public health risks, but factors influencing spatiotemporal FIB variation in headwater streams at baseflow have received insufficient attention. We analyzed a 12-year dataset of FIB concentrations collected from 118 watersheds in the Delaware River Basin of the eastern United States across seasons to establish baseline conditions and investigate how landscape (watershed size and land cover) and in-stream (e.g., temperature and particulates) environmental variables relate to spatiotemporal FIB variations. We found that most probable number (MPN)-derived FIB levels in baseflow at 86 % to 96 % of sites (for Escherichia coli and Enterococcus, respectively) were above human health regulatory limits for primary contact during the recreational season. Variables affecting FIB dynamics included watershed size, seasonal variations in stream temperature, total particulate carbon and nitrogen in the water, and land cover types – specifically, the relative extent of forested, developed, and agricultural areas. Based on watershed size, smaller headwaters contained higher recreational period FIB concentrations than larger rivers. Headwater FIB concentrations were related to land cover, with lower concentrations observed in forested watersheds, and higher concentrations in developed and agricultural watersheds. Microbial source tracking suggested that FIB originated from human and bovine sources in headwaters with developed or agricultural land cover. FIB levels tended to be lower in non-recreational seasons (winter, spring, and fall) in small headwater streams. In addition to human, cow and other animals, we speculate that FIB survival and turnover in local environments might also cause FIB occurrence. These findings help guide choices of indicators to address fecal contamination of rivers and streams and prioritize restorative actions at the landscape scale.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589914725000465Fecal indicator bacteriaHeadwater streamsSpatial and temporal variationsWatershed land coverMicrobial source trackingPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Daniel T. Myers Laura Zgleszewski Raven Bier Jacob R. Price Shane Morgan John K. Jackson Diana Oviedo-Vargas Melinda Daniels David B. Arscott Jinjun Kan High fecal indicator bacteria in temperate headwater streams at baseflow: implications for management and public health Water Research X Fecal indicator bacteria Headwater streams Spatial and temporal variations Watershed land cover Microbial source tracking Public health |
| title | High fecal indicator bacteria in temperate headwater streams at baseflow: implications for management and public health |
| title_full | High fecal indicator bacteria in temperate headwater streams at baseflow: implications for management and public health |
| title_fullStr | High fecal indicator bacteria in temperate headwater streams at baseflow: implications for management and public health |
| title_full_unstemmed | High fecal indicator bacteria in temperate headwater streams at baseflow: implications for management and public health |
| title_short | High fecal indicator bacteria in temperate headwater streams at baseflow: implications for management and public health |
| title_sort | high fecal indicator bacteria in temperate headwater streams at baseflow implications for management and public health |
| topic | Fecal indicator bacteria Headwater streams Spatial and temporal variations Watershed land cover Microbial source tracking Public health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589914725000465 |
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