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A model for predicting tourist carrying capacity and implications for fish conservation

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Abstract

Tourism development in protected areas inevitably induces a decline in the ecological environment and species survival. However, the degree of impact depends on target species’ environmental quality tolerance and the number of tourists. Each fish can tolerate a specific level of water quality. Water quality should not deteriorate below this level as a result of tourism. In this study, we used regression analysis and habitat suitability curve method to determine the number of tourists that could visit an area without inducing a decline in water quality that would negatively impact the survival of protected fishes. A regression model indicated that of the ten water quality parameters evaluated, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and ammonia-nitrogen were most impacted by tourists. A habitat suitability curve was produced for each target fish population and water quality parameter. These curves were used to determine suitable water quality for fish survival. The curves were then combined to determine the acceptable number of tourists for management of water quality suitable for fish survival. In order to maintain suitable water quality for the survival of Varicorhinus barbatulus, Candidia barbatus, and Acrossocheilus paradoxus, the threshold number of tourists at the study site is 3,000–3,600 people per week.

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Acknowledgments

The study is within the framework realized with data of Project MOEA/W12A-0940039, financed by a program of the Water Resources Agency (WRA), Ministry of Economic Affairs, ROC. The authors would like to thank the people at the WRA who sponsored and provided continuous assistance throughout the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Landscape Architecture, Chung Hua University, 707, Sec. 2, WuFu Rd., Hsinchu, Taiwan, 300, Republic of China

    Lee Hsueh Lee & Zi Yuan Chang

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  1. Lee Hsueh Lee
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  2. Zi Yuan Chang
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Correspondence to Lee Hsueh Lee.

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Lee, L.H., Chang, Z.Y. A model for predicting tourist carrying capacity and implications for fish conservation. Environ Biol Fish 98, 871–884 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0335-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0335-7

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