Marine pollution

This study was undertaken to determine the distribution
and possible source of Staphylococcus aureus, s. epidermidis,
other Micrococcaceae , and enterococci recovered from samples
of water collected at the following locations: the Pompano
Beach sewage outfall, the Intracoastal Waterway, 5 miles due
east of the Boca Raton Inlet, over the 65 ft Boca Raton reef,
and in 5 ft of water along the Boca Raton beach. It was also
of interest to study the feasibility of employing s. aureus
as an indicator of fecal pollution in the marine environment.
Neither staphylococci nor enterococci were recovered
from 5 samples of beach sand collected from the high tide
line to the low tide line. Only low concentrations of
staphylococci were recovered from samples collected from the
Intracoastal Waterway. The staphylococci recovered from the
marine locations do not appear to be true marine bacteria.
They do not appear to be originating from bathers, beach
washings or the Intracoastal Waterway. Sampling was inadequate
to reach definite conclusions on the origin of the
Micrococcaceae recovered in the ocean. However, these data
indicate the staphylococci originate from the Pompano Beach
sewage outfall. Staphylococcus aureus appears to be more resistant to
the conditions of the marine environment than the other
Micrococcaceae, enterococci or other sewage bacteria
recovered on Mannitol Salt Agar and m-Enterococcus Agar.
The mean per cent recovery of S. aureus increases with increased distances downstream from the outfall to the 65 ft
reef and sampling site 5 miles offshore. ~· aureus appears
to be a good indicator of fecal pollution in the marine
environment.
Survival studies of washed cells of a coagulase
positive Staphylococcus aureus run in autoclaved sea water
and autoclaved Intracoastal water gave mean decimal reduction
times of 16.6 hr and 11.4 hr, respectively.
Staphylococci were not recovered from Bryothamnion
triguetrum,Caulerpa sertularioides f. brevipes, Dasycladus
vermicularis or Padina sanctae-crucis. Ten Micrococcaceae
recovered from the ocean were not inhibited by extracts
prepared from these algae. Intact segments of these algae
possessed antibacterial activity against most, if not all
of these Micrococcaceae.

The significance of the transmission of animal viruses in sewage
polluted fresh and marine waters becomes an increasingly important
factor as more and more evidence is presented to support the fact
that in the case of many viral types one virus particle constitutes
an infective dose. Therefore it is very important that a method of
determining the extent of viral pollution in sewage polluted bodies
of marine and fresh water be found.
The longevity of f2 bacteriophage in both marine and fresh water
sewage polluted samples was determined, and shown to be 3 to 4 days
for marine water and 8 days for fresh water. It was also shown
that the culture medium in which the f2 phage was produced, and the
larger macromolecular polymers commonly found associated with sewage
had a favorable affect in increasing the longevity of f2 phage.
It was shown that f2 bacteriophage could be used to follow the
initial dispersion of the sewage boil arising from an ocean outfall
sewerage system. From these results it was concluded that f2
bacteriophage could be used for more detailed studies concerned
with the transmission of viruses in sewage polluted waters.

A brown tide bloom of the pelagophyte Aureoumbra lagunensis caused significant impacts to north Indian River Lagoon (IRL) in 2012-2013, including seagrass die-offs, fish kills, and reduced growth and grazing of ecologically important bivalves. There is potential for another pelagophyte, Aureococcus anophagefferens, to expand into this system. Filtration rates (FR) of the pleated tunicate Styela plicata exposed to Aureoumbra lagunensis and Aureococcus anophagefferens were measured against exposure to a control alga (Tisochrysis lutea) in order to determine its potential use as a bioremediator against these harmful algal blooms (HABs). In addition, whether S. plicata might serve as a vector of HABs was studied by culturing fecal deposits. Short-term exposure to HABs significantly reduced FR, whereas long-term exposure indicates comparable cell removal compared to the control. Vector potential of S. plicata was inconclusive. Results warrant further research to determine whether S. plicata can acclimate or respond to HAB conditions over time.

Two methods, a membrane filter-fluorescent antibody technique for
detection of Staphylococcus aureus, and isotopic determination of
relative heterotrophic activity, were compared with a standard technique
based on the recovery of coliform organisms for evaluation as indices of
marine pollution. Water samples were collected from coastal areas of
Pompano Beach and Boca Raton, Florida. Coliform and staphylococci
survival in seawater was studied under laboratory conditions. The effect
of exposure to seawater on substrate uptake by coliforms and other sewage
microorganisms was studied using isotopic methods. The results of these
studies support the feasibility of using S· aureus as a long-range
indicator of marine pollution. Under natural conditions, S· aureus
appears more resistant to seawater than coliform organisms, although the
reverse was found under laboratory conditions. Seawater inhibited uptake
of glucose and lactose by Escherichia coli and other sewage organisms.
Relative heterotrophic potentials in terms of glucose and lactose uptake
velocities were not significantly affected in coastal waters by the
influx of bacteria and nutrients in sewage outfall effluent.