Modern supratidal microbialites fed by groundwater: functional drivers, value and trajectories
- Rishworth, Gavin M, Dodd, Carla, Perissinotto, Renzo, Bornman, Thomas G, Adams, Janine B, Anderson, Callum R, Cawthra, Hayley C, Dorrington, Hayley C, du Toit, Hendrik, Edworthy, Carla, Gibb, Ross-Lynne A, Human, Lucienne R D, Isemonger, Eric W, Lemley, David A, Miranda, Nelson A, Peer, Nasreen, Raw, Jacqueline L, Smith, Alan M, Steyn, Paul-Pierre, Strydom, Nadine A, Teske, Peter R, Welman, Peter R
- Authors: Rishworth, Gavin M , Dodd, Carla , Perissinotto, Renzo , Bornman, Thomas G , Adams, Janine B , Anderson, Callum R , Cawthra, Hayley C , Dorrington, Hayley C , du Toit, Hendrik , Edworthy, Carla , Gibb, Ross-Lynne A , Human, Lucienne R D , Isemonger, Eric W , Lemley, David A , Miranda, Nelson A , Peer, Nasreen , Raw, Jacqueline L , Smith, Alan M , Steyn, Paul-Pierre , Strydom, Nadine A , Teske, Peter R , Welman, Peter R
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426008 , vital:72306 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103364"
- Description: Microbial mats were the dominant habitat type in shallow marine environments between the Palaeoarchean and Phanerozoic. Many of these (termed ‘microbialites’) calcified as they grew but such lithified mats are rare along modern coasts for reasons such as unsuitable water chemistry, destructive metazoan influences and competition with other reef-builders such as corals or macroalgae. Nonetheless, extant microbialites occur in unique coastal ecosystems such as the Exuma Cays, Bahamas or Lake Clifton and Hamelin Pool, Australia, where limitations such as calcium carbonate availability or destructive bioturbation are diminished. Along the coast of South Africa, extensive distributions of living microbialites (including layered stromatolites) have been discovered and described since the early 2000s. Unlike the Bahamian and Australian ecosystems, the South African microbialites form exclusively in the supratidal coastal zone at the convergence of emergent groundwater seepage. Similar systems were documented subsequently in southwestern Australia, Northern Ireland and the Scottish Hebrides, as recently as 2018, revealing that supratidal microbialites have a global distribution. This review uses the best-studied formations to contextualise formative drivers and processes of these supratidal ecosystems and highlight their geological, ecological and societal relevance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Rishworth, Gavin M , Dodd, Carla , Perissinotto, Renzo , Bornman, Thomas G , Adams, Janine B , Anderson, Callum R , Cawthra, Hayley C , Dorrington, Hayley C , du Toit, Hendrik , Edworthy, Carla , Gibb, Ross-Lynne A , Human, Lucienne R D , Isemonger, Eric W , Lemley, David A , Miranda, Nelson A , Peer, Nasreen , Raw, Jacqueline L , Smith, Alan M , Steyn, Paul-Pierre , Strydom, Nadine A , Teske, Peter R , Welman, Peter R
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426008 , vital:72306 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103364"
- Description: Microbial mats were the dominant habitat type in shallow marine environments between the Palaeoarchean and Phanerozoic. Many of these (termed ‘microbialites’) calcified as they grew but such lithified mats are rare along modern coasts for reasons such as unsuitable water chemistry, destructive metazoan influences and competition with other reef-builders such as corals or macroalgae. Nonetheless, extant microbialites occur in unique coastal ecosystems such as the Exuma Cays, Bahamas or Lake Clifton and Hamelin Pool, Australia, where limitations such as calcium carbonate availability or destructive bioturbation are diminished. Along the coast of South Africa, extensive distributions of living microbialites (including layered stromatolites) have been discovered and described since the early 2000s. Unlike the Bahamian and Australian ecosystems, the South African microbialites form exclusively in the supratidal coastal zone at the convergence of emergent groundwater seepage. Similar systems were documented subsequently in southwestern Australia, Northern Ireland and the Scottish Hebrides, as recently as 2018, revealing that supratidal microbialites have a global distribution. This review uses the best-studied formations to contextualise formative drivers and processes of these supratidal ecosystems and highlight their geological, ecological and societal relevance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Fish utilization of surf-zones. Are they changing? A case study of the sheltered, warm-temperate King’s Beach
- Rishworth, Gavin M, Strydom, Nadine A, Potts, Warren M
- Authors: Rishworth, Gavin M , Strydom, Nadine A , Potts, Warren M
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124504 , vital:35619 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2014.11407616
- Description: Surf-zone fish communities and their shifts over time are generally poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare the current surf-zone fish assemblage at King’s Beach, South Africa, to a similar study conducted three decades ago, before the collapse of many exploited shore fishes in the region. Beach seine nets (mesh sizes of 10 and 50 mm) were used to target juvenile and adult fishes bimonthly from February to August 2011 over the high tide around sunset. A total of 14 species were recorded in both the 30mand 100mseine nets. The catch in these seine nets was dominated by Pomadasys olivaceus and Liza richardsonii, and this was significantly different to three decades ago, when P. olivaceus, Sarpa salpa and Diplodus capensis dominated the catch. Important linefish species belonging to the Sparidae and Sciaenidae families were significantly smaller and less abundant in this study. Two sparids, S. salpa and Lithognathus mormyrus, which made a large contribution to the surf-zone catch three decades ago were absent during this study. Reasons for the significant shifts in the surf-zone fish community, including overexploitation of the linefish and potential habitat modification, are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Rishworth, Gavin M , Strydom, Nadine A , Potts, Warren M
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124504 , vital:35619 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2014.11407616
- Description: Surf-zone fish communities and their shifts over time are generally poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare the current surf-zone fish assemblage at King’s Beach, South Africa, to a similar study conducted three decades ago, before the collapse of many exploited shore fishes in the region. Beach seine nets (mesh sizes of 10 and 50 mm) were used to target juvenile and adult fishes bimonthly from February to August 2011 over the high tide around sunset. A total of 14 species were recorded in both the 30mand 100mseine nets. The catch in these seine nets was dominated by Pomadasys olivaceus and Liza richardsonii, and this was significantly different to three decades ago, when P. olivaceus, Sarpa salpa and Diplodus capensis dominated the catch. Important linefish species belonging to the Sparidae and Sciaenidae families were significantly smaller and less abundant in this study. Two sparids, S. salpa and Lithognathus mormyrus, which made a large contribution to the surf-zone catch three decades ago were absent during this study. Reasons for the significant shifts in the surf-zone fish community, including overexploitation of the linefish and potential habitat modification, are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The nursery role of a sheltered surf-zone in warm-temperate southern Africa
- Rishworth, Gavin M, Strydom, Nadine A, Potts, Warren M
- Authors: Rishworth, Gavin M , Strydom, Nadine A , Potts, Warren M
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/443651 , vital:74141 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC177697
- Description: Marine fish nurseries such as surf-zones have usually been classified as nurseries based solely on the density of pre-adult fish, yet the full suite of developmental stages are seldom assessed because of difficulties associated with sampling these habitats. The larval and early juvenile fish assemblage was studied in a sheltered surf-zone (King's Beach, South Africa), where high densities of older juveniles are known to occur. Fishes were collected fortnightly over six months using two modified seine nets. Although the surf composition included typical species for this habitat type, Gobiidae, Gobiesocidae and Haemulidae dominated the larval assemblage, which suggested that the nearby rocky structure and estuaries have an influence on the assemblage. Three species, Liza richardsonii (Mugilidae), Pomadasys olivaceus (Haemulidae) and Diplodus capensis (Sparidae), showed evidence of growth and recruitment into the surf-zone from the late larval stage. The high density of larval and juvenile fishes, the presence of more than one early life history stage and the observed growth of fishes suggests that King's Beach provides a suitable nursery habitat for several fishes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Rishworth, Gavin M , Strydom, Nadine A , Potts, Warren M
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/443651 , vital:74141 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC177697
- Description: Marine fish nurseries such as surf-zones have usually been classified as nurseries based solely on the density of pre-adult fish, yet the full suite of developmental stages are seldom assessed because of difficulties associated with sampling these habitats. The larval and early juvenile fish assemblage was studied in a sheltered surf-zone (King's Beach, South Africa), where high densities of older juveniles are known to occur. Fishes were collected fortnightly over six months using two modified seine nets. Although the surf composition included typical species for this habitat type, Gobiidae, Gobiesocidae and Haemulidae dominated the larval assemblage, which suggested that the nearby rocky structure and estuaries have an influence on the assemblage. Three species, Liza richardsonii (Mugilidae), Pomadasys olivaceus (Haemulidae) and Diplodus capensis (Sparidae), showed evidence of growth and recruitment into the surf-zone from the late larval stage. The high density of larval and juvenile fishes, the presence of more than one early life history stage and the observed growth of fishes suggests that King's Beach provides a suitable nursery habitat for several fishes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Fish utilization of surf-zones: Are they changing A case study of the sheltered, warm-temperate King’s Beach
- Rishworth, Gavin M, Strydom, Nadine A, Potts, Warren M
- Authors: Rishworth, Gavin M , Strydom, Nadine A , Potts, Warren M
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/443866 , vital:74167 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2014.11407616
- Description: Surf-zone fish communities and their shifts over time are generally poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare the current surf-zone fish assemblage at King's Beach, South Africa, to a similar study conducted three decades ago, before the collapse of many exploited shore fishes in the region. Beach seine nets (mesh sizes of 10 and 50 mm) were used to target juvenile and adult fishes bimonthly from February to August 2011 over the high tide around sunset. A total of 14 species were recorded in both the 30 m and 100 m seine nets. The catch in these seine nets was dominated by Pomadasys olivaceus and Liza richardsonii, and this was significantly different to three decades ago, when P. olivaceus, Sarpa salpa and Diplodus capensis dominated the catch. Important linefish species belonging to the Sparidae and Sciaenidae families were significantly smaller and less abundant in this study. Two sparids, S. salpa and Lithognathus mormyrus, which made a large contribution to the surf-zone catch three decades ago were absent during this study. Reasons for the significant shifts in the surf-zone fish community, including overexploitation of the linefish and potential habitat modification, are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Rishworth, Gavin M , Strydom, Nadine A , Potts, Warren M
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/443866 , vital:74167 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2014.11407616
- Description: Surf-zone fish communities and their shifts over time are generally poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare the current surf-zone fish assemblage at King's Beach, South Africa, to a similar study conducted three decades ago, before the collapse of many exploited shore fishes in the region. Beach seine nets (mesh sizes of 10 and 50 mm) were used to target juvenile and adult fishes bimonthly from February to August 2011 over the high tide around sunset. A total of 14 species were recorded in both the 30 m and 100 m seine nets. The catch in these seine nets was dominated by Pomadasys olivaceus and Liza richardsonii, and this was significantly different to three decades ago, when P. olivaceus, Sarpa salpa and Diplodus capensis dominated the catch. Important linefish species belonging to the Sparidae and Sciaenidae families were significantly smaller and less abundant in this study. Two sparids, S. salpa and Lithognathus mormyrus, which made a large contribution to the surf-zone catch three decades ago were absent during this study. Reasons for the significant shifts in the surf-zone fish community, including overexploitation of the linefish and potential habitat modification, are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Occurrence of larval fishes in a rocky shore-associated nursery area in temperate South Africa, with emphasis on temperature-related growth in dominant Sparidae
- Strydom, Nadine A, Booth, Anthony J, McLachlan, A
- Authors: Strydom, Nadine A , Booth, Anthony J , McLachlan, A
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125342 , vital:35774 , https://doi.10.2989/1814232X.2014.899269
- Description: Larval fishes were studied in Shark Bay on the warm, temperate south-east coast of South Africa. The bay is a small, shallow, subtidal area associated with a rocky shore. Sampling took place fortnightly for a period of one year (September 2004–August 2005) to assess composition, abundance and growth of fishes. The objectives of the study were to assess the extent of use of this habitat type by larvae throughout the year and to ascertain what temperature advantages this relatively warm habitat could have on growth of dominant species. A total of 10 fish families, represented by 16 taxa, was collected using a specially modified beach seine net (mesh aperture 500 μm). Shark Bay was utilised extensively by Diplodus capensis and Sarpa salpa and to a lesser extent by Clinus supercilious, Liza spp. and Mugil cephalus. Mean catch per unit effort (CPUE) of larvae was high (>500 larvae per net haul), peaking at ~7 500 larvae in a single haul that consisted mostly of postflexion-stage Sparidae. There was a weak, negative correlation (−0.24) between temperature and overall CPUE, which reflected either the seasonality or protracted nature of spawning by the species occurring in the bay. There was no significant difference in CPUE between the moon phases sampled on the spring tides in this study. Shark Bay was dominated by postflexionstage larvae, consisting in particular of species common to tide pools during the juvenile stage. Certain species were sampled for only short periods during the year. The year-round occurrence and high abundance of the two dominant species indicate that Shark Bay represents an important nursery habitat for the completion of the larval phase. These species exhibited exponential growth that lagged behind small increases in temperature, highlighting the importance of access to shallow, warm habitat that allows larval growth to increase, leading to earlier settlement into juvenile habitat and thereby reducing the pelagic larval duration.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Strydom, Nadine A , Booth, Anthony J , McLachlan, A
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125342 , vital:35774 , https://doi.10.2989/1814232X.2014.899269
- Description: Larval fishes were studied in Shark Bay on the warm, temperate south-east coast of South Africa. The bay is a small, shallow, subtidal area associated with a rocky shore. Sampling took place fortnightly for a period of one year (September 2004–August 2005) to assess composition, abundance and growth of fishes. The objectives of the study were to assess the extent of use of this habitat type by larvae throughout the year and to ascertain what temperature advantages this relatively warm habitat could have on growth of dominant species. A total of 10 fish families, represented by 16 taxa, was collected using a specially modified beach seine net (mesh aperture 500 μm). Shark Bay was utilised extensively by Diplodus capensis and Sarpa salpa and to a lesser extent by Clinus supercilious, Liza spp. and Mugil cephalus. Mean catch per unit effort (CPUE) of larvae was high (>500 larvae per net haul), peaking at ~7 500 larvae in a single haul that consisted mostly of postflexion-stage Sparidae. There was a weak, negative correlation (−0.24) between temperature and overall CPUE, which reflected either the seasonality or protracted nature of spawning by the species occurring in the bay. There was no significant difference in CPUE between the moon phases sampled on the spring tides in this study. Shark Bay was dominated by postflexionstage larvae, consisting in particular of species common to tide pools during the juvenile stage. Certain species were sampled for only short periods during the year. The year-round occurrence and high abundance of the two dominant species indicate that Shark Bay represents an important nursery habitat for the completion of the larval phase. These species exhibited exponential growth that lagged behind small increases in temperature, highlighting the importance of access to shallow, warm habitat that allows larval growth to increase, leading to earlier settlement into juvenile habitat and thereby reducing the pelagic larval duration.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Tufa stromatolite ecosystems on the South African south coast
- Perissinotto, Renzo, Bornman, Tommy G, Steyn, Paul-Pierre, Miranda, Nelson A F, Dorrington, Rosemary A, Matcher, Gwynneth F, Strydom, Nadine A, Peer, Nasreen
- Authors: Perissinotto, Renzo , Bornman, Tommy G , Steyn, Paul-Pierre , Miranda, Nelson A F , Dorrington, Rosemary A , Matcher, Gwynneth F , Strydom, Nadine A , Peer, Nasreen
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6490 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014585 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2014/20140011
- Description: Following the first description of living marine stromatolites along the South African east coast, new investigations along the south coast have revealed the occurrence of extensive fields of actively calcifying stromatolites. These stromatolites have been recorded at regular distances along a 200-km stretch of coastline, from Cape Recife in the east to the Storms River mouth in the west, with the highest density found between Schoenmakerskop and the Maitland River mouth. All active stromatolites are associated with freshwater seepage streams flowing from the dune cordon, which form rimstone dams and other accretions capable of retaining water in the supratidal platform. Resulting pools can reach a maximum depth of about 1 m and constitute a unique ecosystem in which freshwater and marine organisms alternate their dominance in response to vertical mixing and the balance between freshwater versus marine inflow. Although the factors controlling stromatolite growth are yet to be determined, nitrogen appears to be supplied mainly via the dune seeps. The epibenthic algal community within stromatolite pools is generally co-dominated by cyanobacteria and chlorophytes, with minimal diatom contribution.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Perissinotto, Renzo , Bornman, Tommy G , Steyn, Paul-Pierre , Miranda, Nelson A F , Dorrington, Rosemary A , Matcher, Gwynneth F , Strydom, Nadine A , Peer, Nasreen
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6490 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1014585 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/sajs.2014/20140011
- Description: Following the first description of living marine stromatolites along the South African east coast, new investigations along the south coast have revealed the occurrence of extensive fields of actively calcifying stromatolites. These stromatolites have been recorded at regular distances along a 200-km stretch of coastline, from Cape Recife in the east to the Storms River mouth in the west, with the highest density found between Schoenmakerskop and the Maitland River mouth. All active stromatolites are associated with freshwater seepage streams flowing from the dune cordon, which form rimstone dams and other accretions capable of retaining water in the supratidal platform. Resulting pools can reach a maximum depth of about 1 m and constitute a unique ecosystem in which freshwater and marine organisms alternate their dominance in response to vertical mixing and the balance between freshwater versus marine inflow. Although the factors controlling stromatolite growth are yet to be determined, nitrogen appears to be supplied mainly via the dune seeps. The epibenthic algal community within stromatolite pools is generally co-dominated by cyanobacteria and chlorophytes, with minimal diatom contribution.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Biological responses to a resumption in river flow in a freshwater-deprived, permanently open Southern African estuary
- Vorwerk, Paul D, Froneman, P William, Paterson, Angus W, Strydom, Nadine A, Whitfield, Alan K
- Authors: Vorwerk, Paul D , Froneman, P William , Paterson, Angus W , Strydom, Nadine A , Whitfield, Alan K
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6886 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011645
- Description: The Kariega Estuary is a freshwater-deprived system due to numerous impoundments in the catchment. This system has had little or no horizontal salinity gradient over the last 15 years, with hypersaline conditions sometimes predominating in the upper reaches. Following high rainfall events in the catchment during the spring of 2006, including a flood event (approximate 1:10 year) in August 2006, a series of riverine pulses entered the estuary and a horizontal salinity gradient was established. This study examined the influence of this freshwater pulse on four components of the biota within the estuary, namely the zooplankton, and larval, littoral and demersal fishes. The study demonstrated that in three of these components elevated densities were recorded following the riverine input, with only the littoral fishes retaining an almost constant density. In addition, changes in the relative contributions of the estuarine utilisation classes for all three fish groups examined indicated that freshwater input into these systems positively influences the abundances. This has significant implications for water managers as it demonstrates the importance of an Ecological Reserve (defined as ‘the water required to protect the aquatic ecosystems of the water resource’) for this system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Vorwerk, Paul D , Froneman, P William , Paterson, Angus W , Strydom, Nadine A , Whitfield, Alan K
- Date: 2008
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6886 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011645
- Description: The Kariega Estuary is a freshwater-deprived system due to numerous impoundments in the catchment. This system has had little or no horizontal salinity gradient over the last 15 years, with hypersaline conditions sometimes predominating in the upper reaches. Following high rainfall events in the catchment during the spring of 2006, including a flood event (approximate 1:10 year) in August 2006, a series of riverine pulses entered the estuary and a horizontal salinity gradient was established. This study examined the influence of this freshwater pulse on four components of the biota within the estuary, namely the zooplankton, and larval, littoral and demersal fishes. The study demonstrated that in three of these components elevated densities were recorded following the riverine input, with only the littoral fishes retaining an almost constant density. In addition, changes in the relative contributions of the estuarine utilisation classes for all three fish groups examined indicated that freshwater input into these systems positively influences the abundances. This has significant implications for water managers as it demonstrates the importance of an Ecological Reserve (defined as ‘the water required to protect the aquatic ecosystems of the water resource’) for this system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The role of estuarine type in characterizing early stage fish assemblages in warm temperate estuaries, South Africa
- Strydom, Nadine A, Whitfield, Alan K, Wooldridge, T H
- Authors: Strydom, Nadine A , Whitfield, Alan K , Wooldridge, T H
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/447658 , vital:74664 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2003.11657192
- Description: Assemblages of early stage fishes (larval and early juvenile stages) were investigated and compared in seven permanently open and five intermittently open estuarine systems on the warm temperate Eastern Cape coast of South Africa. Estuarine type, by virtue of mouth state and prevailing physico chemical conditions, played a defining role in the structure of these fish assemblages. Clupeidae and Gobiidae were the dominant fish families in both estuarine types. Permanently open estuaries were characterized by the predominance of larvae and early juveniles of estuary dependent marine fish species while estuary resident fishes dominated intermittently open estuaries. Seasonal changes were observed in species density and diversity in both estuarine types. Species richness and diversity were highest in the permanently open Swartkops Estuary that is characterized by large nursery habitat availability. Species diversity was high in estuaries with a good supply of freshwater, that results in good recruitment of estuary dependent marine species. Similarly, freshwater deprived estuaries also displayed high species diversity and this was due to the higher incidence of marine straggler species in these systems. Salinity zones appeared to play a significant role in both species density and the presence or absence of species in both estuarine types. Mesohaline zones were found to be the most productive in terms of accumulator regions for larval stages.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Strydom, Nadine A , Whitfield, Alan K , Wooldridge, T H
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/447658 , vital:74664 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2003.11657192
- Description: Assemblages of early stage fishes (larval and early juvenile stages) were investigated and compared in seven permanently open and five intermittently open estuarine systems on the warm temperate Eastern Cape coast of South Africa. Estuarine type, by virtue of mouth state and prevailing physico chemical conditions, played a defining role in the structure of these fish assemblages. Clupeidae and Gobiidae were the dominant fish families in both estuarine types. Permanently open estuaries were characterized by the predominance of larvae and early juveniles of estuary dependent marine fish species while estuary resident fishes dominated intermittently open estuaries. Seasonal changes were observed in species density and diversity in both estuarine types. Species richness and diversity were highest in the permanently open Swartkops Estuary that is characterized by large nursery habitat availability. Species diversity was high in estuaries with a good supply of freshwater, that results in good recruitment of estuary dependent marine species. Similarly, freshwater deprived estuaries also displayed high species diversity and this was due to the higher incidence of marine straggler species in these systems. Salinity zones appeared to play a significant role in both species density and the presence or absence of species in both estuarine types. Mesohaline zones were found to be the most productive in terms of accumulator regions for larval stages.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
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