Distribution of viral abundance in the reef environment of Key Largo, Florida

The indication of fecal pollution by measuring coliphage abundance is discussed. Water column and sediments from Florida Bay across Key Largo to the edge of the Florida Shelf were analyzed for total, coliphage and marine host isolate virus abundance by viral, sediment and bacterial direct counts. Results indicate that phage was abundant in the Key Largo during winter and that factors determining their distribution in the water column were different from from those in the sediments.