Indicator bacteria and limnological parameters in fish ponds

Abstract

Abstract The populations of indicator bacteria (mesophilic, coliform and fecal streptococci) together with relevant limnological parameters (temperature, oxygen, BOD and chlorophyll-α) were recorded during a 6 year study of three eutrophic ponds. Ecosystems were manipulated with fish (Cyprinus carpio) in 2-year management cycles: in spring of the first year, the pond was stocked with young fish, and in the fall of the second year it was drained and mature fish were harvested. Fish management had a direct influence on bacterial numbers and on the basic parameters of the systems. A statistical analysis using t-tests found significant differences in oxygen concentration, chlorophyll-α and BOD during both years of fish management. A water temperature model was calculated on an extensive homogenous data set (197 measurements), by fitting a regression curve. During each season, populations of indicator bacteria increased with increasing water temperature, and maximal numbers of bacteria were recorded during the summer months. Correlation analysis (fitted Spearman correlation coefficient) confirmed that temperature had a positive significant effect on population dynamics. The results demonstrate that fish stocking can affect bacterial population, in the sense that during high fish biomass (second years) the numbers of indicator bacteria as well as BOD and phytoplankton were higher. If pond water quality must be optimised for the purposes of drinking or recreation, the planned fish yield may have to be reduced.