Use of Optics for Identifying and Monitoring Pathogenic Vibrio Bacteria

in Great Bay, NH

Erin Urquhart, Shane Brandt, Tim Moore, Meg Hartwick, Vaughn Cooper, Steve Jones

University of New Hampshire

November 19th, 2014

Vibrios in the Gulf of Maine

*Maine Dept. of Health & Human Services*New Hampshire Dept. of Health & Human Services

*Massachusetts Dept. of Health & Human Services

• V. cholerae

• V. vulnificus

• V. parahaemolyticus

Vibrios in the Environment

Sunlight Climate

PHYSICAL PARAMETERS• Temperature• Salinity• Precipitation• Turbidity

BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS• Nutrients• pH

• Bacteria• Plankton

• Shellfish• Rec. water

Untreatedsewage

OR

NI

AP

Vibrio ecology, genetics, epidemiology at UNH

Others: Naumova (Tufts), Polz (MIT), Wright (Univ. of FL); FDA (Dauphine Is); Strom-(NWFSC)

Is there a relationship between Vibrios and plankton in the GBE?

Can RS be used to study the variability in

chlorophyll a and thus plankton in the GBE?

Current Research

Interaction between environmental conditions and Vibrio spp.

Interaction between plankton and Vibrio spp.

OysterRiver

NannieIsland

• Spring & Summer 2014:• Bi-weekly, monthly collections• JEL, OR, NI stations

• Data:• Biological samples

• Water & plankton• Water samples

• Temperature• Salinity• DO• pH• Optical depth

• Nutrients (sonde)• TDN, PO4, Chl_a

• Reflectances; (spectroradiometer)• Fluorescence, HPLC

GB Field Sampling

Water

Phyto

Zoo

V. parahaemolyticus at Jackson Estuarine Laboratory (JEL) Summer 2014

Is there a relationship between Vibrios and plankton in the GBE?

CLEARLY!

The Use of Satellite Remote Sensing in Great Bay, NH

09/26/2014; Landsat 8 True Color• RS can provide the spatial, temporal,

and spectral resolution needed for Vibrio monitoring in the GBE.

• RS can help pin point high risk areas and eliminate unproductive field sampling.

• Satellite sensors can be used to simultaneously quantify the concentration of water constituents:• Chl_a• CDOM• TSS

• With a combination of sensed observations…• semi-empirical models can be

developed to estimate near-real time conditions.

43.08 N

43.06 N

43.04 N

70.54 W 70.52 W 70.50 W

N

2.8

2.6

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.0

0.8

09/26/2014; TOA Temperature

The Use of Satellite Remote Sensing in Great Bay, NH

43.08 N

43.06 N

43.04 N

70.54 W 70.52 W 70.50 W

N

09/26/2014; Chlorophyll_a

Brivio et al., 20011.35

1.3

1.25

1.2

1.15

1.1

1.05

1

0.95

0.9

0.85

Future Work

• 2015 Spring & Summer Field Campaign• Simultaneous biological, in situ, hyperspectral, and

satellite observations• Increased in situ spatial sampling, more data sondes.

• Integration with HydroQual (hydrodynamic model).

• Validation of DRS in situ hyperspectral observations with continuous GB buoy measurements.

• Extension to Gulf of Maine and other public health relevant regions.

Acknowledgments

University of New Hampshire: Jim Haney, Jackie Lemaire, Jones’ Lab

Great Bay Community College: Linda Coe

Applied Geo-solutions: Nate Trowbridge, Megan Corbiere

Funding Sources

University of New Hampshire; EPSCoR/NEST