Seasonal and Spatial Effects of Wastewater Effluent on Oyster Ecology and Sanitation in Mobile Bay, Alabama (2007-2008)

Dataset extent

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Wastewater treatment plants (WTP) input large amounts of effluent into coastal and estuarine waters. These effluents contain high concentrations of nutrients and microbes. These inputs can affect the ecology and sanitation of flora and fauna in the receiving waters. Increased nutrient concentrations, for example, can increase food (microalgae concentrations) and consequently growth for bivalves such as oysters, but can also render them inedible due to increased pathogen loads. Understanding these inputs and their impacts is critical to conserving and utilizing the natural resources in estuarine waters. This study was an examination of the effects of WTP-derived nutrients and bacterial and viral pathogens on oyster growth and survival and sanitation with increasing distance (dilution) from a major point source, the Clifton C. Williams WTP outfall in Mobile Bay, Alabama. This study additionally tested the efficacy of traditional (bacterial) and new (viral) indicators of wastewater influence on an important commercial shellfishery species. Since oyster growth, survival, and pathogen concentrations may vary with water temperature, we tested these effects seasonally. It was hypothesized that concentrations of nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and TDN) and microbial pathogens decreased with increasing distance from the outfall and nutrient and microbial concentrations impacted oyster ecology and sanitation.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Author Dr. Ruth Carmichael
Maintainer data@disl.org
Last Updated July 23, 2022, 03:04 (UTC)
Created July 23, 2022, 03:04 (UTC)
Access_Constraints Permission to access these data must be given by Dr. Ruth Carmichael of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Marine Organism and Ecosystem Response Lab.
ISO 19115 Topic Categories biota, 002, environment, 007, health, 009, inlandWaters, 012, oceans, 014
Place Keywords Alabama, Mobile Bay, Clifton C. Williams Waste Treatment Plant, MacDuffie Island, Mobile Bay Ship Channel
Theme Keywords wastewater, point source pollution, wastewater treatment plants, WTP, oyster, oyster ecology, sanitation, nutrients, pathogens, bivalves, Crassostrea virginica, dilution, bacteria, viral, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, TDN, temperature, effluent, water quality, stable isotopes, seasons, distance, concentration
Use_Constraints Acknowledgment of the DISL: Marine Organism and Ecosystem Response Lab, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant and the National Science Foundation is required in products developed from these data
dc.coverage.placeName Alabama Mobile Bay Clifton C. Williams Waste Treatment Plant MacDuffie Island Mobile Bay Ship Channel
dc.coverage.t.max 20080325T
dc.coverage.t.min 20070606T
dc.coverage.x.max -88.02973
dc.coverage.x.min -88.03334
dc.coverage.y.max 30.65785
dc.coverage.y.min 30.60767
dc.creator Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Marine Organism and Ecosystem Response Lab
dc.date Unpublished material
dc.description Wastewater treatment plants (WTP) input large amounts of effluent into coastal and estuarine waters. These effluents contain high concentrations of nutrients and microbes. These inputs can affect the ecology and sanitation of flora and fauna in the receiving waters. Increased nutrient concentrations, for example, can increase food (microalgae concentrations) and consequently growth for bivalves such as oysters, but can also render them inedible due to increased pathogen loads. Understanding these inputs and their impacts is critical to conserving and utilizing the natural resources in estuarine waters. This study was an examination of the effects of WTP-derived nutrients and bacterial and viral pathogens on oyster growth and survival and sanitation with increasing distance (dilution) from a major point source, the Clifton C. Williams WTP outfall in Mobile Bay, Alabama. This study additionally tested the efficacy of traditional (bacterial) and new (viral) indicators of wastewater influence on an important commercial shellfishery species. Since oyster growth, survival, and pathogen concentrations may vary with water temperature, we tested these effects seasonally. It was hypothesized that concentrations of nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and TDN) and microbial pathogens decreased with increasing distance from the outfall and nutrient and microbial concentrations impacted oyster ecology and sanitation.
dc.language en
dc.subject wastewater point source pollution wastewater treatment plants WTP oyster oyster ecology sanitation nutrients pathogens bivalves Crassostrea virginica dilution bacteria viral nitrate nitrite ammonia TDN temperature effluent water quality stable isotopes seasons distance concentration
dc.title Seasonal and Spatial Effects of Wastewater Effluent on Oyster Ecology and Sanitation in Mobile Bay, Alabama (2007-2008)
dc.type spreadsheet
spatial { "type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [ [ [ -88.03334, 30.65785 ], [ -88.02973, 30.65785 ], [ -88.02973, 30.60767 ], [ -88.03334, 30.60767 ], [ -88.03334, 30.65785 ] ] ] }