Microbial water quality of the Georgian coastal zone of the Black Sea

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 573 - 580
• Main Authors: Janelidze, N., Jaiani, E., Lashkhi, N., Tskhvediani, A., Kokashvili, T., Gvarishvili, T., Jgenti, D., Mikashavidze, E., Diasamidze, R., Narodny, S., Obiso, R., Whitehouse, C.A., Huq, A., Tediashvili, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bacteria; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - growth & development; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacteriophage; Black Sea; Chlorophyll - analysis; Colony Count, Microbial; Environmental Monitoring; Escherichia; Exact sciences and technology; Fecal pollution; Georgia (Republic); Georgian; Indicators; Marine; Microbial indicators; Microorganisms; Natural water pollution; Plankton - classification; Plankton - growth & development; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Seawater - chemistry; Seawater - microbiology; Seawaters, estuaries; Vibrio; Vibrios; Water Microbiology; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution; Water Pollution, Chemical - statistics & numerical data; Water quality; Water treatment and pollution; Georgia (Republic); Asia; Black Sea; MED, Black Sea; Fecal pollution; Microbial indicators; Bacteriophage; Vibrios; Black Sea; Water quality; Microbiology; Escherichia coli; Biological indicator; Coastal zone; Virus; Surveillance; Pathogenic; Bacteria; Vibrionaceae; Water pollution; Feces; Biological contamination; Enterobacteriaceae; Phage; Seawater; Vibrio
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.11.027

► Most microbial quality indicators in the Black Sea coastal zone vary by season. ► Low salinity and high temperatures may encourage non-native bacteria in estuaries. ► Temperature greatly impacts the occurrence and abundance of native Vibrio species. ► Marine somatic coliphage abundance is proportional to fecal pollution indices. ► Microbial water quality in the Georgian Black Sea improved from 2000 to 2008.
From 2006 to 2008, microbial water quality was monitored along the Georgian coast of the Black Sea. Temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured, along with a variety of aquatic microbial parameters, including heterotrophic plate count (HPC), total culturable bacterial count (TCBC), and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration. Total and fecal coliforms and total enterococci counts were recorded as indicators of fecal pollution. Vibrio bacteria, and Escherichia coli- and Vibrio-specific bacteriophages were isolated and enumerated to determine their relationships to standard marine pollution indicators.
Persistent microbial pollution was observed, particularly in the summer months, with a higher rate of contamination in estuaries. Microbial indicators generally showed seasonal dependence, suggesting that temperature may influence bacterial dynamics in this environment. No correlation was apparent between fecal pollution indicators and physical–chemical and aquatic microbial parameters, although there were significant relationships amongst the indicators themselves, as well as with the prevalence of Vibrio bacteria and phage.