Analysis of Microbial Community Diversity in Two Watersheds on the Dingle Peninsula

Mentor/s

Dr. Kirk Bartholomew Dr. Mark Beekey Dr. LaTina Steele Dr. John Rapaglia

Participation Type

Poster

Abstract

Anthropogenic impacts on water quality in coastal ecosystems is of increasing concern given current land-use and population patterns. In particular, sustainable development in areas of high population/tourism pressure in coastal watersheds is of concern and demands an understanding of the complex relationships between the “natural” and “human” systems affecting the ecosystem. Two adjacent watersheds on the on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland (Dingle and Ballyferriter) provide an interesting opportunity to separate the effects of natural/agricultural impacts (Balleyferriter) vs. natural/agricultural/tourism (Dingle) effects on water quality in the primary river systems draining the two watersheds. As part of a larger effort to conduct a thorough environment assessment of the two watersheds, we have begun an assessment of the microbiological communities in the Milltown (Dingle) and Feonagh (Ballyferriter) river systems based on fecal coliform counts and small subunit ribosomal RNA profiling. Currently our data indicate a higher fecal coliform load in the Feonagh river system during the fall with the reverse being true during the summer tourist season. Small subunit ribosomal RNA sequencing also indicates differences in the microbial communities between the two watersheds, however the significance of these differences will require further investigation.

College and Major available

Biology

Location

University Commons

Start Day/Time

4-20-2018 1:00 PM

End Day/Time

4-20-2018 3:00 PM

Students' Information

Kendra Sherman is a student in the Thomas More Honors Program.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
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Apr 20th, 1:00 PM Apr 20th, 3:00 PM

Analysis of Microbial Community Diversity in Two Watersheds on the Dingle Peninsula

University Commons

Anthropogenic impacts on water quality in coastal ecosystems is of increasing concern given current land-use and population patterns. In particular, sustainable development in areas of high population/tourism pressure in coastal watersheds is of concern and demands an understanding of the complex relationships between the “natural” and “human” systems affecting the ecosystem. Two adjacent watersheds on the on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland (Dingle and Ballyferriter) provide an interesting opportunity to separate the effects of natural/agricultural impacts (Balleyferriter) vs. natural/agricultural/tourism (Dingle) effects on water quality in the primary river systems draining the two watersheds. As part of a larger effort to conduct a thorough environment assessment of the two watersheds, we have begun an assessment of the microbiological communities in the Milltown (Dingle) and Feonagh (Ballyferriter) river systems based on fecal coliform counts and small subunit ribosomal RNA profiling. Currently our data indicate a higher fecal coliform load in the Feonagh river system during the fall with the reverse being true during the summer tourist season. Small subunit ribosomal RNA sequencing also indicates differences in the microbial communities between the two watersheds, however the significance of these differences will require further investigation.