Core 4 Research Program - University of Mississippi

 
 

PCR Monitoring of Post-Rainfall Changes to Water Quality

Principal Investigator: Dr. Paul Boudreau
Institution: University of Mississippi
Award Amount: $120,000
Period of Performance: February 16, 2026 – November 15, 2027

Project Goals and Importance

Rainfall and associated runoff can introduce contaminants into coastal waters, potentially affecting water quality, oyster reef sustainability, and coastal resource management. Understanding how microbial water-quality conditions change following rainfall events is important for protecting Mississippi's coastal ecosystems.

This project applies polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based monitoring techniques to investigate changes in coastal water quality following rainfall events. The research will contribute to MBRACE's coordinated Core 4 investigations at shared study sites in the Mississippi Sound, complementing studies of water circulation, oyster growth, and environmental conditions affecting reef sustainability.

Research Objectives

  • Apply PCR-based methods to monitor water-quality changes following rainfall events.

  • Investigate potential sources of microbial contamination affecting coastal waters.

  • Characterize changes in microbial water-quality indicators associated with rainfall and runoff.

  • Integrate findings with complementary Core 4 investigations of environmental conditions affecting oyster reefs.

Expected Management Impacts

Results are expected to improve understanding of rainfall-related water-quality changes and potential microbial contamination sources. These findings may support coastal water-quality monitoring, pollution source identification, and management decisions related to oyster reef restoration and coastal resource protection.

Project Outputs

Publications, presentations, datasets, and other research products will be added as they become available.