Overview and status of estuarine microphytobenthos ecological research in South Africa
- Dalu, Tatenda, Adams, Janine B, Taylor, Jonathan C, Bate, G C, Nunes, M, Froneman, P William, Wasserman, Ryan J
- Authors: Dalu, Tatenda , Adams, Janine B , Taylor, Jonathan C , Bate, G C , Nunes, M , Froneman, P William , Wasserman, Ryan J
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479308 , vital:78285 , https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2018.1431309
- Description: This article presents a historical overview of estuarine microphytobenthos (MPB) research in South Africa published over the period 1950 to the present, highlighting major milestones, challenges and estuarine management problems, as well as future research needs within the South African context. The studies that were covered comprise peer-reviewed books and journal articles on relevant research conducted in any estuarine environment during the period reviewed. There was a general increase in MPB research outputs over the decades, from only two publications in the 1950s, to over 20 outputs between 2010 and the present. Whereas the MPB studies in South Africa cover a broad spectrum of themes, the research priorities in these works have changed from taxonomically biased studies to those of ecologically based research. Research in the 1950s and 1960s was exclusively taxonomic in nature, with the first ecological investigation incorporating MPB being produced in the 1970s. By the 1980s, ecological studies dominated the research outputs and this trend has persisted to the present. The 1990s and 2000s saw the rise of research into the role of fresh water as a driver of MPB dynamics, whereas the period 2010 to the present saw an increase in more diverse ecological themes, ranging from an autecological investigation to food-web studies and the assessment of multiple drivers of MPB dynamics. However, the majority of studies have focused on either diatoms or estimates of overall MPB biomass. Moreover, there is a regional underrepresentation that runs broadly along biogeographic lines, with the bulk of the work having been conducted in the warm-temperate and subtropical zones of South Africa. Challenges and future research needs for the region are outlined, as is the need to expand MPB research to include other aspects of the biology and ecology of this flora.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Dalu, Tatenda , Adams, Janine B , Taylor, Jonathan C , Bate, G C , Nunes, M , Froneman, P William , Wasserman, Ryan J
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479308 , vital:78285 , https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2018.1431309
- Description: This article presents a historical overview of estuarine microphytobenthos (MPB) research in South Africa published over the period 1950 to the present, highlighting major milestones, challenges and estuarine management problems, as well as future research needs within the South African context. The studies that were covered comprise peer-reviewed books and journal articles on relevant research conducted in any estuarine environment during the period reviewed. There was a general increase in MPB research outputs over the decades, from only two publications in the 1950s, to over 20 outputs between 2010 and the present. Whereas the MPB studies in South Africa cover a broad spectrum of themes, the research priorities in these works have changed from taxonomically biased studies to those of ecologically based research. Research in the 1950s and 1960s was exclusively taxonomic in nature, with the first ecological investigation incorporating MPB being produced in the 1970s. By the 1980s, ecological studies dominated the research outputs and this trend has persisted to the present. The 1990s and 2000s saw the rise of research into the role of fresh water as a driver of MPB dynamics, whereas the period 2010 to the present saw an increase in more diverse ecological themes, ranging from an autecological investigation to food-web studies and the assessment of multiple drivers of MPB dynamics. However, the majority of studies have focused on either diatoms or estimates of overall MPB biomass. Moreover, there is a regional underrepresentation that runs broadly along biogeographic lines, with the bulk of the work having been conducted in the warm-temperate and subtropical zones of South Africa. Challenges and future research needs for the region are outlined, as is the need to expand MPB research to include other aspects of the biology and ecology of this flora.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A review of the ecology and management of temporarily open/closed estuaries in South Africa, with particular emphasis on river flow and mouth state as primary drivers of these systems
- Whitfield, Alan K, Bate, G C, Adams, J B, Cowley, Paul D, Froneman, P William, Gama, P T, Strydom, N A, Taljaard, S, Theron, A K, Turpie, J K, Van Niekerk, L, Wooldridge, T H
- Authors: Whitfield, Alan K , Bate, G C , Adams, J B , Cowley, Paul D , Froneman, P William , Gama, P T , Strydom, N A , Taljaard, S , Theron, A K , Turpie, J K , Van Niekerk, L , Wooldridge, T H
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480849 , vital:78487 , https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2012.675041
- Description: Research in South African temporarily open/closed estuaries that includes studies on the hydrodynamics, sediment dynamics, macronutrients, microalgae, macrophytes, zoobenthos, hyperbenthos, zooplankton, ichthyoplankton, fishes and birds is used as a basis to review the ecology and management of this estuary type on the subcontinent. Particular attention is given to the responses of the different ecosystem components to the opening and closing of the estuary mouth and how this is driven by riverine and marine events, as well as anthropogenic influences. In addition, the wider implications of these research findings for the management of temporarily open/closed estuaries in terms of freshwater supply are explored, together with the role of government legislation in maintaining the ecological integrity of these important wetland systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Whitfield, Alan K , Bate, G C , Adams, J B , Cowley, Paul D , Froneman, P William , Gama, P T , Strydom, N A , Taljaard, S , Theron, A K , Turpie, J K , Van Niekerk, L , Wooldridge, T H
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480849 , vital:78487 , https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2012.675041
- Description: Research in South African temporarily open/closed estuaries that includes studies on the hydrodynamics, sediment dynamics, macronutrients, microalgae, macrophytes, zoobenthos, hyperbenthos, zooplankton, ichthyoplankton, fishes and birds is used as a basis to review the ecology and management of this estuary type on the subcontinent. Particular attention is given to the responses of the different ecosystem components to the opening and closing of the estuary mouth and how this is driven by riverine and marine events, as well as anthropogenic influences. In addition, the wider implications of these research findings for the management of temporarily open/closed estuaries in terms of freshwater supply are explored, together with the role of government legislation in maintaining the ecological integrity of these important wetland systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A multidisciplinary study of a small, temporarily open/closed South African estuary, with particular emphasis on the influence of mouth state on the ecology of the system
- Whitfield, Alan K, Adams, J B, Bate, G C, Bezuidenhout, K, Bornman, T G, Cowley, Paul D, Froneman, P William, Gama, P T, James, N C, Mackenzie, B, Riddin, T, Snow, G C, Strydom, N A, Taljaard, S, Terörde, A I, Theron, A K, Turpie, J K, Van Niekerk, L, Vorwerk, P D, Wooldridge, D H
- Authors: Whitfield, Alan K , Adams, J B , Bate, G C , Bezuidenhout, K , Bornman, T G , Cowley, Paul D , Froneman, P William , Gama, P T , James, N C , Mackenzie, B , Riddin, T , Snow, G C , Strydom, N A , Taljaard, S , Terörde, A I , Theron, A K , Turpie, J K , Van Niekerk, L , Vorwerk, P D , Wooldridge, D H
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480839 , vital:78481 , https://doi.org/10.2989/AJMS.2008.30.3.2.636
- Description: In 2005/2006 a multidisciplinary research programme that included studies on the hydrodynamics, sediment dynamics, macronutrients, microalgae, macrophytes, zoobenthos, hyperbenthos, zooplankton, ichthyoplankton, fish and birds of the temporarily open/closed East Kleinemonde Estuary was conducted. Particular attention was given to the responses of the different ecosystem components to the opening and closing of the estuary mouth and how this is driven by both riverine and marine events. Using a complementary dataset of daily estuary mouth conditions spanning a 14-year period, five distinct phases of the estuary were identified, including closed (average = 90% of the days), outflow (below1%), tidal (9%) and semi-closed (below1%). The open-mouth phase is critical for the movements of a number of estuary-associated fish (e.g. Rhabdosargus holubi) and invertebrates (e.g. Scylla serrata) between the estuary and sea.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Whitfield, Alan K , Adams, J B , Bate, G C , Bezuidenhout, K , Bornman, T G , Cowley, Paul D , Froneman, P William , Gama, P T , James, N C , Mackenzie, B , Riddin, T , Snow, G C , Strydom, N A , Taljaard, S , Terörde, A I , Theron, A K , Turpie, J K , Van Niekerk, L , Vorwerk, P D , Wooldridge, D H
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480839 , vital:78481 , https://doi.org/10.2989/AJMS.2008.30.3.2.636
- Description: In 2005/2006 a multidisciplinary research programme that included studies on the hydrodynamics, sediment dynamics, macronutrients, microalgae, macrophytes, zoobenthos, hyperbenthos, zooplankton, ichthyoplankton, fish and birds of the temporarily open/closed East Kleinemonde Estuary was conducted. Particular attention was given to the responses of the different ecosystem components to the opening and closing of the estuary mouth and how this is driven by both riverine and marine events. Using a complementary dataset of daily estuary mouth conditions spanning a 14-year period, five distinct phases of the estuary were identified, including closed (average = 90% of the days), outflow (below1%), tidal (9%) and semi-closed (below1%). The open-mouth phase is critical for the movements of a number of estuary-associated fish (e.g. Rhabdosargus holubi) and invertebrates (e.g. Scylla serrata) between the estuary and sea.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
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