Studies of E. coli and Coliform Bacteria Contamination in Mussels (Geukensia demissa) Collected from Guion Creek and Its Correlation to Water Flow Rate

Ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa) were collected from a highly contaminated Guion Creek, Mamaroneck Harbor, NY and were compared with Harbor Island Park and Shore Acres Beach, for amounts of bacteria. Mussels were also collected from a pristine beach, Read Sanctuary, Rye. The water flow rate was measured at all sites. The results showed that the amount of E. coli and coliform bacteria recovered from mussels were significantly higher in Guion Creek and its water flow rate was significantly lower when compared to three other sites. On the contrary, the highest water flow rate and lowest amounts of bacteria were recovered from mussels collected at Read Sanctuary. A negative correlation of water flow rate with amounts of E. coli and coliform recovered from mussels at all sites was found. Results suggested that a slow water flow rate in Guion Creek might be one of the contributing factors to the high bacterial loads.

INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR RECOVERY OF DIESEL-BASED DRILLING MUD-THE TRICO MARINE CASE STUDY

ABSTRACT On the evening of June 3, 2003 an operational error while circulating mud tanks on the off shore supply vessel Big Horn River resulted in the discharge of 214 barrels of 75 percent diesel-based drilling mud into Redfish Bay at Harbor Island, Texas. The bulk of the drilling mud sank to the bottom of the Aransas Channel with no surface indication as to the extent the product had spread along the channel bottom. Initial response to the release was hampered by severe weather while concern grew over the sensitivity of the surrounding area. Responders were faced with a complex challenge to develop an efficient recovery plan. Divers were utilized to delineate the extent of the underwater contamination and facilitated the cleanup with a unique vacuum truck-air lift system developed on scene.

Marsh Rice Rat, Oryzomys palustris, Predation on Forster's Tern, Sterna forsteri, Eggs in Coastal North Carolina

Nesting success of Forster’s Terns (Sterna forsteri) was examined on two small islands in the Cedar Island area of North Carolina. Forster’s Terns laid an average of 2.1 eggs per nest (n = 50) on Chainshot Island and 2.1 eggs per nest (n = 43) on Harbor Island in clutches that consisted of 1 to 3 eggs. On Chainshot Island every egg (n = 107) was lost to predation. On Harbor Island, 72 of 92 eggs were preyed upon. A trapping program, initiated on both islands, yielded 32 Marsh Rice Rats (Oryzomys palustris). Stomach contents of 23 rats were inspected, with 92.3% from Chainshot Island and 70% of the stomachs from Harbor Island containing yolk and feathers of Forster’s Terns.