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Biomass-dependent effects of common carp on water quality in shallow ponds

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Abstract

We examined the biomass-dependent effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) on water quality in 10 ponds at the Eagle Mountain Fish Hatchery, Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Ponds contained 0–465 kg ha−1 of common carp. We measured limnological variables at weekly intervals for four weeks in early summer, after which ponds were drained and the biomass of fish and macrophytes was determined. Common carp biomass was significantly positively correlated with chlorophyll a, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and Keratella spp. density and negatively correlated to bushy pondweed (Najas guadalupensis) biomass. In addition, we combined our data with data from comparable studies to develop more robust regression models that predict the biomass-dependent effects of common carp on water quality variables across a wide range of systems.

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Author notes

  1. Matthew M. Chumchal & Weston H. Nowlin

    Present address: Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma,, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Room 314,, Norman,, Oklahoma, 73019, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Texas Christian University,, Fort Worth, , Texas, 76129, USA

    Matthew M. Chumchal, Weston H. Nowlin & Ray W. Drenner

  2. Department of Zoology, Miami University, 212 Pearson Hall, Oxford, , Ohio, 45056, USA

    Weston H. Nowlin

Authors
  1. Matthew M. Chumchal
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  2. Weston H. Nowlin
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  3. Ray W. Drenner
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Chumchal, M.M., Nowlin, W.H. & Drenner, R.W. Biomass-dependent effects of common carp on water quality in shallow ponds . Hydrobiologia 545, 271–277 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-3319-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-3319-y

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