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SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF E. COLI DISTRIBUTION IN THE PIEDMONT UNIVERSITY WETLANDS, DEMOREST, GEORGIA

Abstract

Previous Escherichia coli monitoring along Camp Creek in the Piedmont University Wetlands has shown overall low numbers with occasional spikes in colonies associated with rain events. Because those spikes were not detected above the wetlands, it was considered likely that they are attributable to beaver activity there. We wanted to know if there was spatial and/or temporal variation in E. coli colony production within that wetland system. Our hypothesis was that this variation exists, and we predicted that it would be revealed by more extensive surveys within the system. Water samples were collected from 5 locations from September 16th – November 14th 2022 and tested for E. coli colony concentration using the E.coli/Coliform count plate methodology administered by the Georgia Adopt a Stream Bacterial Monitoring Program. Four out of five sample locations had elevated E. coli counts during at least one sample. Two sample dates, associated with minor rain events, had elevated numbers across those four locations. From our results it is difficult to identify a specific source of E coli contamination, although we can eliminate one possible source, because of consistently low E. coli counts at that sample location. Our results support the role of rain events in triggering spikes of E. coli.

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