Identification of potential microbial risk factors associated with fecal indicator exceedances at recreational beaches.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fecal bacterial densities are proxy indicators of beach water quality, and beach posting decisions are made based on Beach Action Value (BAV) exceedances for a beach. However, these traditional beach monitoring methods do not reflect the full extent of microbial water quality changes associated with BAV exceedances at recreational beaches (including harmful cyanobacteria). This proof of concept study evaluates the potential of metagenomics for comprehensively assessing bacterial community changes associated with BAV exceedances compared to non-exceedances for two urban beaches and their adjacent river water sources.

Results

Compared to non-exceedance samples, BAV exceedance samples exhibited higher alpha diversity (diversity within the sample) that could be furthe

SUBMITTER: Saleem F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10790499 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature