Phosphorus Loadings Associated with a Park Tourist Attraction: Limnological Consequences of Feeding the Fish |
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Authors: | Andrew M Turner Nathan Ruhl |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Clarion University, Clarion, Pennsylvania 16214, USA;(2) Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA |
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Abstract: | The Linesville spillway of Pymatuning State Park is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Pennsylvania, USA, averaging
more than 450,000 visitors · year−1. Carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus) and waterfowl congregate at the spillway where they are fed bread and other foods by park visitors. We hypothesized
that the “breadthrowers” constitute a significant nutrient vector to the upper portion of Pymatuning Reservoir. In the summer
of 2002, we estimated phosphorus loadings attributable to breadthrowers, and compared these values to background loadings
from Linesville Creek, a major tributary to the upper reservoir. Items fed to fish included bread, donuts, bagels, canned
corn, popcorn, corn chips, hot dogs, birthday cakes, and dog food. Phosphorus loading associated with park visitors feeding
fish was estimated to be 3233 g day−1, and estimated P export from the Linesville Creek watershed was 2235 g·day−1. P loading attributable to breadthrowers exceeded that of the entire Linesville Creek watershed on 33 of the 35 days of study,
with only a heavy rainfall event triggering watershed exports that exceeded spillway contributions. Averaged across 5 weeks,
breadthrowers contributed 1.45-fold more P to Pymatuning Reservoir than the Linesville Creek watershed. If Linesville Creek
P exports are extrapolated to the entire Sanctuary Lake watershed, spillway contributions of P added 48% to the non-point
source watershed P entering the lake. Park visitors feeding fish at the Linesville Spillway are a significant source of nutrients
entering Sanctuary Lake. |
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Keywords: | Eutrophication Nutrient enrichment Phosphorus loading Visitor impacts Carp |
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