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Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access via Drexel Libraries Read and Publish Program 2024CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open
Journal article
Impacts of a herring gull colony on runoff water quality from an urban green roof
The science of the total environment, v 946, 174430
04 Jul 2024
Featured in Collection : Research Supported by Drexel Libraries' OA Programs
Abstract
Green infrastructure (GI) strategies, including green roofs, have become a common, decentralized, nature-based strategy for reducing urban runoff and restoring ecosystem services to the urban environment. In this study, we examined the water quality of incident rainfall and runoff from a green roof installed on top of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Since the 2014 installation of this green roof, one of the largest in North America, a colony of nesting herring gulls grew to approximately 100 nesting pairs in 2018 and 150 nesting pairs in 2019. Water quality monitoring took place between September 2018 and October 2019. Except for phosphorus on some occasions, we found concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, chlorine, sulfate to be below federal drinking water standards. Levels of the fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), total coliform, E. coli, and Enterococcus, were consistently higher in runoff samples than rainwater, ranging from 150 to over 20,000 CFU/100 mL for E. coli and 100 to over 140,000 CFU/100 mL for total coliform. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods were used to search for potential opportunistic pathogens, including Legionella spp., Mycobacterium spp., Campylobacter spp., and Salmonella spp. Discovery of the presence of Catellicoccus marimammalium, a gull-associated marker in runoff water indicates that herring gulls are the likely source of contamination. Due to habitat loss, herring gulls, and other Larus gull species are increasingly nesting on urban roofs, both green (such as at the Javits Center) and conventional (such as on Rikers and Governors Islands). Habitat creation is one of the target ecosystem services desired from GI systems. Although the discharge from the green roof of the Javits Center is directed to the city's sewer system, this study demonstrates the need to treat runoff from green roofs with nesting gull populations if its intended use involves reuse or human contact.
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Details
- Title
- Impacts of a herring gull colony on runoff water quality from an urban green roof
- Creators
- Jinjie He (Corresponding Author) - Drexel University, Civil, Architectural, and Environmental EngineeringElrod Owusu-Asumeng - Drexel UniversityKate ZidarJulian Stolper - Drexel University, Civil, Architectural, and Environmental EngineeringSudipti Attri - Drexel UniversityJacob R Price - Drexel University, Civil, Architectural, and Environmental EngineeringDustin PartridgeFranco A Montalto - Drexel University, Center for Public PolicyChristopher M Sales - Drexel University, Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
- Publication Details
- The science of the total environment, v 946, 174430
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering; Center for Public Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001266006300001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85197231281
- Other Identifier
- 991021889312604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences