Prevalence of Vibrionaceae and Aeromonaceae in Ribbed Mussels in Regard to Feral Horse Activity along Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland
Assateague Island National Seashore supports approximately 150 non-native horses (Equus caballus) and it is important to ensure they do not adversely affect native species. The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between feral horse activity and bacteria levels in ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa). Understanding this relationship is important because shellfish host bacterial pathogens, including those within the Vibrionaceae and Aeromonaceae families, can negatively affect the health of aquatic organisms and human health. We test two hypotheses: 1.) whether there is a...
