Molecular testing devices for on-site detection of E. coli in water samples.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells are present in fecal materials that can be the main source for disease-causing agents in water. As a result, E.

Initial estuarine response to inorganic nutrient inputs from a legacy mining facility adjacent to Tampa Bay, Florida.

Legacy mining facilities pose significant risks to aquatic resources. From March 30th to April 9th, 2021, 814 million liters of phosphate mining wastewater and marine dredge water from the Piney Point facility were released into lower Tampa Bay (Florida, USA). This resulted in an estimated addition of 186 metric tons of total nitrogen, exceeding typical annual external nitrogen load estimates to lower Tampa Bay in a matter of days.

Increased levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) during Hurricane Dorian on the east coast of Florida.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals commonly found in everyday consumer products and are an emerging concern due to their ubiquitous presence in ecosystems around the world. PFAS exposure, which often occurs through contaminated water, has been linked to several adverse health effects in humans and wildlife. PFAS can be transported in surface water and storm runoff in the nearshore environment.

Sea-level rise and the emergence of a keystone grazer alter the geomorphic evolution and ecology of southeast US salt marshes.

Keystone species have large ecological effects relative to their abundance and have been identified in many ecosystems. However, global change is pervasively altering environmental conditions, potentially elevating new species to keystone roles. Here, we reveal that a historically innocuous grazer-the marsh crab -is rapidly reshaping the geomorphic evolution and ecological organization of southeastern US salt marshes now burdened by rising sea levels.

Characterization of Bacterial and Fungal Communities Reveals Novel Consortia in Tropical Oligotrophic Peatlands.

Despite their importance for global biogeochemical cycles and carbon sequestration, the microbiome of tropical peatlands remains under-determined. Microbial interactions within peatlands can regulate greenhouse gas production, organic matter turnover, and nutrient cycling. Here we analyze bacterial and fungal communities along a steep P gradient in a tropical peat dome and investigate community level traits and network analyses to better understand the composition and potential interactions of microorganisms in these understudied systems and their relationship to peatland biogeochemistry.

Multiple biomarkers highlight the importance of water column processes in treatment wetland organic matter cycling.

A suite of biomarkers, including amino acids, pigments, and lignin phenols coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry were used to evaluate differences in the sources and fate of organic matter (OM) in Everglades treatment wetlands as a model for OM cycling in shallow water wetlands. Five components of the system (water column particulate matter, vertical traps, flocculent material, periphyton, and surface soil) were assessed for OM transformations down-profile (i.e.

Methanogens Are Major Contributors to Nitrogen Fixation in Soils of the Florida Everglades.

The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of the nitrogen (N) cycle with methane production in the Florida Everglades, a large freshwater wetland. This study provides an initial analysis of the distribution and expression of N-cycling genes in Water Conservation Area 2A (WCA-2A), a section of the marsh that underwent phosphorus (P) loading for many years due to runoff from upstream agricultural activities. The elevated P resulted in increased primary productivity and an N limitation in P-enriched areas.