DOI: 10.5285/34df30f2-3163-4c11-8743-3732e49220fb
title: High spatial resolution seasonal distributions of faecally-derived waterborne and sediment bacteria in standing waters, Glasgow, UK, 2016-2017

description: This dataset contains information about water quality based on faecal indicators at 15 lakes in the Greater Glasgow conurbation, Scotland. Lakes were sampled in winter (2016/17) and summer (2017) with faecal indicators being quantified at high spatial resolution (up to 60 points per lake depending on water body size) in sediment and water from each lake.  Faecal indicators were quantified based on standard dilution, membrane filtration and incubation for water, and incubation in bacteria-specific broth, followed by plating and incubation for sediment extracts.  Contextual information about water quality, water bird densities, and land cover in different buffer sizes is also provided for each lake. The data were collected to investigate how connectivity and stressors interact to determine biodiversity and ecosystem function in freshwaters.

The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council grant NE/N006437/1 (Hydroscape: connectivity x stressor interactions in freshwater habitats)

description: Sub-surface water samples and cores of the upper 5cm of sediment obtained from multiple geolocated points within each of 15 water bodies via boat-based sampling.

For consistency all sites were sampled 3 hours after sunrise in summer (July) and on ice-free days in winter (Dec/Jan). Sampling intensity was dependent on water body size. Bird distribution and numbers were recorded for an hour from a suitable vantage point at the same time of sampling.

A separate water sample was collected from a mid-point in each site for laboratory analysis of metals, nutrients and other standard determinands (Thermo iCap 6000 Series or Dionex DX-120). Dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity and temperature were measured in the field using a HACH multiprobe.

Standard water body characteristics (area, elevation, perimeter etc) are sourced from the U.K. Lakes Portal (https://uklakes.ceh.ac.uk/)

Water samples for microbial analysis were stored at 4 C and processed within 6 h of collection. 100ml samples at three dilutions were ﬁltered through 0.45-m membrane ﬁlters, placed onto the surface of Membrane Lactose Glucoronide Agar (MLGA) agar. Plates were incubated at 37 deg C and counted after 24 h. Counts are reported as colony forming unit (CFU) per 100 ml water.

A mixture of sediment (~2.5 g) and 50ml Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was used to enumerate E. coli in the sediment. All sediment dilutions were made by placing samples in sterile PBS and shaking them. Each dilution was spread using disposable sterile loops onto MLGA agar plates and incubated at 37 deg C for 24 hours before counting colonies. To quantify abundance of Campylobacter, I. Enterococci, E. coli 0157 and E.coli in sediment a single composite 1g subsample was placed into a sterilised glass vial of 100ml LB broth. A 100ug sample of the aliquot of each sample was spread over the surface of agar plates with a disposable sterile loop and incubated following isolation and incubation protocol for each type of bacteria. Colonies were counted, and results are reported as CFU per g oven-dried soil.

Data were added to an Excel spreadsheet and exported as a .csv file for deposit into the EIDC.