Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0601-1723

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Sparks, Eric L.

Committee Member

Lee, Philip

Committee Member

Baker, Beth

Date of Degree

12-13-2024

Original embargo terms

Worldwide

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GNDNERR) has a history of elevated fecal coliform counts. However, the source of the contamination is not well understood. According to past sanitary surveys, there has been a history of malfunctioning residential septic systems and inadequate wastewater treatment in the upper watershed. Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) and birds are also abundant in the estuary and could be potential contributors to elevated fecal coliform levels. To better understand the temporal and spatial variation of fecal coliforms in the GNDNERR and inform oyster reef management, eight sites within the GNDNERR watershed were sampled monthly for one year. Quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCR) were used to identify levels of potential sources from humans, feral hogs, and birds within the estuary as well as the concentrations of Enterococcus.

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