Water Quality Trends in a Mixed Species Manatee Facility Four Years of Operation

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Water Quality Trends in a Mixed Species Manatee
Facility (Four Years of Operation)

• Mike Brittsan, Katie Dever,
• and Doug Warmolts

1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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Columbus Zoo Aquarium

• Joined program in 1997
• Opened Manatee Coast in June 1999
• Theme 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge

1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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Manatee Coast

• Open Atrium Design
• Retractable Skylight Roof

1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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Manatee CoastScience InterpretationConservation
and Education
Staff interaction with visitors On site distance
learning Release program monitoring Field work
interpretation Zoo School
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Manatee CoastEducation Conservation

• Story book theme for children
• Theaters and interactive kiosks
• Coin drop contribution station

1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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Manatee Coast

• 23,000 square feet building
• 300,000 Gallons (1.135 Million Liters)
• 11 Million dollar project

1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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Manatee Coast

• Estuarine system 15ppt
• Mixed species exhibit
• Biomass 6,000 pounds (2,700 Kg) plus or minus
  1,000 pounds
• (450 Kg) average over the last four years
• manatees, fish, marine reptiles, waterfowl,
• live mangroves

1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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Manatee CoastLife support Systems
Mixed species exhibit Very high particulate
load No chlorine used Large scale foam
fractionation Low coliform counts
1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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Electronic Data Collection, Storage, and
Retrieval

 
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1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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Coliform Levels
No Scrubbing
Ozone Problems
MPN
4 Manatees
3 Manatees
5 Manatees
3 Manatees
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Coliform Levels No Scrubbing
Ozone Problems
MPN
5 Manatees
3 Manatees
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Nutrient Levels NH3 and NO2 as N
No Scrubbing
Ozone Problems
PPM
3 Manatees
5 Manatees
3 Manatees
4 Manatees
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Nutrient Levels NH3 and NO2 as N
Ozone Problems
No Scrubbing
Scrubbing
PPM
5 Manatees
3 Manatees
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Nutrients Levels PO4 and NO3-N
No Scrubbing
Ozone Problems
PPM
4 Manatees
3 Manatees
5 Manatees
3 Manatees
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PO4 Levels and Food Input
3 Manatees
5 Manatees
3 Manatees
4 Manatees
1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal
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Average Water Quality Parameters Columbus Zoo
Manatee Facility
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Thank You
Caribbean Stranding Network Cincinnati
Zoo Columbus Zoo Aquarium Dallas World
Aquarium Disney Conservation Fund EPCOT-Living
Seas Florida Fish Wildlife Conservation
Commission Dolphin Research Center Florida Marine
Research Institute Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Institute

Homosassa Springs State Park Hubbs-Sea World
Research Institute Lowry Park Zoo Miami
Seaquarium Mote Marine Laboratory Save the
Manatee Club Sea World Orlando Sea World San
Diego South Florida Museum U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service USGSs Sirenia Project Wildlife
Trust
1st AQUALITY Symposium, April 2 - 7, 2004,
Oceanario de Lisboa, Portugal