Generalized estimation of nutrient loading of waterbirds on inland aquatic ecosystems

Abstract

Estimating the nutrient loading of aquatic bird is complicated because it is fundamentally dependent on several biological, environmental and methodological factors. The new Boros's generalized method is relatively easy to use based on the conventional bird counting and implemented excrement (faecal) analyses by integrated daily net rates data (g/day/ind.). According to the Boros's generalized method, the carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading of waterbirds on aquatic ecosystems can be estimated by determining the abundance of waterbird populations and the nutrient content (C, N, P) of their excrement. Weekly total loading of waterbirds = Σ species (A × E × RTF × D), where: A (ind./m2): the daily mean of abundance of waterbird species for each month, E (g/day/ind.): the daily net rate of C, N, P in the excrement of each species, RTF: the daily residency time factor (hours spent on soda pans/24 h) of each species in the target habitat, D (n days): the number of days of each month.•Waterbirds can cause extreme guanotrophication (max. 2500 mg P/m2/y) in waters.•The nutrient loading of waterbirds can be estimated by abundance of waterbirds.•Boros's method estimates the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus loading of waterbirds.