Identifying Hotspots of Sewage Pollution in Coastal Areas with Coral Reefs

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorWiegner, Tracy N.
dc.contributor.authorAbaya, Leilani Maijastina
dc.contributor.departmentTropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-07T19:51:23Z
dc.date.available2016-09-07T19:51:23Z
dc.date.issued2016-08
dc.description.abstractSewage pollution threatens human and coral reef health. Study goals were to identify sewage pollution hotspots through dye tracer tests, measurements of sewage indicators, and development of a sewage pollution score, along Puakō’s (Hawaiʻi) reef. Sewage was localized within 10 m of the shoreline and reached it within 9 hours to 3 days. Shoreline nutrient concentrations were two times higher than upland groundwater. Sewage indicators were higher and more variable along the shoreline than on the reef, and often greater than water quality standards. Shoreline δ15N macroalgal values were indicative of sewage, while offshore values were indicative of soil or groundwater nitrate. A sewage pollution score was created using several indicators that accurately identified sewage pollution hotspots, as three dye tracer locations had the highest scores. Results highlight the need for a multi-indicator approach and scoring system for identifying sewage pollution hotspots to improve water quality.
dc.description.degreeM.S.
dc.description.institutionUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo
dc.format.extent67 pages
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10790/2861
dc.language.isoeng
dc.subjectEnvironmental health
dc.subjectBiological oceanography
dc.subjectChemical oceanography
dc.subjectCoral reefs
dc.subjectFecal indicator bacteria
dc.subjectPollution score
dc.subjectSewage
dc.subjectStable nitrogen isotope
dc.subjectWater quality
dc.titleIdentifying Hotspots of Sewage Pollution in Coastal Areas with Coral Reefs
dcterms.rightsAll UHH dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
local.identifier.alturihttp://dissertations.umi.com/hilo.hawaii:10100

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Abaya_hilo.hawaii_1418O_10100.pdf
Size:
1.8 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science
TCBES Theses