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Indicator Bacterial Survival in Stream Sediments
Author(s) -
Sherer Brett M.,
Miner J. Ronald,
Moore James A.,
Buckhouse John C.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1992.00472425002100040011x
Subject(s) - sediment , benthic zone , fecal coliform , water quality , environmental science , feces , indicator bacteria , environmental chemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , biology , ecology , chemistry , geology , paleontology , geotechnical engineering
The impact of grazing cattle ( Bostauras ) on water quality has been the subject of considerable interest as water quality standards become more restrictive. Benthic sediments have been found to harbor significantly higher concentrations of enteric bacteria than the overlying water. In this study, the survival of fecal coliform and fecal streptococci organisms was demonstrated to be significantly longer in sediment laden waters than in those without sediment and further the survival was longer in the sediment‐laden waters than in a supernatant from that same sediment suspended in water. Fecal coliform and fecal streptococci bacteria revealed half‐lives from 11 to 30 d and 9 to 17 d, respectively when incubated with sediment. This is longer than when they are similarly incubated without sediment.