Fecal Source Tracking of The Eastatoe River Waterways

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Environmental Science

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Barbara Campbell, Clemson University

Abstract

Fecal source tracking is utilized all over the world to determine the microorganisms that contaminate water systems. The Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) funded the research to identify contaminants to help preserve the waterways. Our research consisted of collecting samples in June 2016 from the Big and Little Eastatoe Rivers. Nucleic acids were extracted and amplified by PCR in order to determine the species whose gut microbes were present in the samples. Tests were run for many species, such as cows, horses, beavers, humans, and pigs. At the Little Eastatoe, there were positive contamination results for human, beaver, cow, and pig. For the Big Eastatoe samples, there were positive results for human, beaver, cow, and pig. There were no positive results for horse contamination in any samples. FOLKS uses this data, including the presence of different contamination sources, to better conserve the tributaries of Lake Keowee.

Start Date

3-25-2017 11:59 PM

Presentation Format

Written Only

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 11:59 PM

Fecal Source Tracking of The Eastatoe River Waterways

Fecal source tracking is utilized all over the world to determine the microorganisms that contaminate water systems. The Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) funded the research to identify contaminants to help preserve the waterways. Our research consisted of collecting samples in June 2016 from the Big and Little Eastatoe Rivers. Nucleic acids were extracted and amplified by PCR in order to determine the species whose gut microbes were present in the samples. Tests were run for many species, such as cows, horses, beavers, humans, and pigs. At the Little Eastatoe, there were positive contamination results for human, beaver, cow, and pig. For the Big Eastatoe samples, there were positive results for human, beaver, cow, and pig. There were no positive results for horse contamination in any samples. FOLKS uses this data, including the presence of different contamination sources, to better conserve the tributaries of Lake Keowee.