The ocean has been referred to as the next frontier of the global economy. Mauritius, with a maritime zone covering 2.3 million km2, possesses an ocean territory that holds enormous potential for economic growth. Global warming due to anthropogenic climate change is gradually occurring, as evidenced by the worldwide increase in average ocean temperatures. The warming trend in sea surface temperature has strongly been associated with the spread of vibrios, a group of marine pathogens native to warm oligotrophic coastal environments. Vibrio is a common causative agent of otitis and wound infections in susceptible persons in contact with seawater. Given the considerable uncertainty in the magnitude of projected warming and freshening of the Mauritian coastal seawaters, it is valuable to understand how this temperature- and salinity-sensitive pathogen responds to current, short-term predicted, and long-term projected trends. Since the population dynamics of Vibrio species are inextricably linked to environmental parameters, this project is aimed at shedding light on how these factors contribute to their prevalence rate, population densities, geographical and seasonal distribution in Mauritius.
Less...