Elucidation of the tidal influence on bacterial populations in a monsoon influenced estuary through simultaneous observations

Abstract

The influence of tides on bacterial populations in a monsoon influenced tropical estuary was assessed through fine resolution sampling (1 to 3 h) during spring and neap tides from mouth to the freshwater end at four stations during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Higher abundance of total bacterial count (TBC) in surface water near the river mouth, compared to the upstream, during pre-monsoon was followed by an opposite scenario during the monsoon When seasonally compared, it was during the post-monsoon season when TBC in surface water was highest, with simultaneous decrease in their count in the river sediment. The total viable bacterial count (TVC) was influenced by the depth-wise stratification of salinity, which varied with tidal fluctuation, usually high and low during the neap and spring tides respectively. The abundance of both the autochthonous Vibrio spp. and allochthonous coliform bacteria was influenced by the concentrations of dissolved nutrients and suspended particulate matter (SPM). It is concluded that depending on the interplay of riverine discharge and tidal amplitude, sediment re-suspension mediated increase in SPM significantly regulates bacteria populations in the estuarine water, urging the need of systematic regular monitoring for better prediction of related hazards, including those associated with the rise in pathogenic Vibrio spp. in the changing climatic scenarios