Detection and Impact of Sewage Pollution on South Kohala's Coral Reefs

dc.contributor.advisorWiegner, Tracy N.
dc.contributor.authorAguiar, Devon Kealo
dc.contributor.departmentTropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-19T17:36:20Z
dc.date.available2020-06-19T17:36:20Z
dc.date.issued2020-03
dc.description.degreeM.S.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10790/5297
dc.subjectAquatic sciences
dc.subjectCoral Disease
dc.subjectCoral Reefs
dc.subjectSewage Pollution
dc.subjectSouth Kohala
dc.subjectSubmarine Groundwater Discharge
dc.subjectWater Quality
dc.titleDetection and Impact of Sewage Pollution on South Kohala's Coral Reefs
dc.typeThesis
dcterms.abstractSewage pollution is a land-based stressor impacting coral reefs worldwide. In the Hawaiian Islands, On-site sewage disposal systems (OSDS) and wastewater injection wells have been associated with the pollution of inshore waters. Further offshore, OSDS and wastewater injection may be contributing to the chronic degradation of coral reefs in South Kohala, Hawaiʻi. Conducting benthic sampling and employing a multi-indicator approach, this study sought to determine the presence and impact of sewage on South Kohala’s reefs. Our results suggest water motion and groundwater are diluting sewage found on South Kohala’s reefs. South Kohala’s reefs are dominated by turf algae, while sewage pollution may also be facilitating growth anomalies and algal overgrowth on South Kohala’s reefs. With natural processes facilitating connectivity between land and sea, this study illustrates the need for improved sewage treatment and disposal near coastlines.
dcterms.extent63 pages
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.publisherUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo
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.
dcterms.typeText
local.identifier.alturihttp://dissertations.umi.com/hilo.hawaii:10189

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