Impact of marine inundation after a period of drought on the lakeshore vegetation of Lake St Lucia, South Africa: resilience of estuarine vegetation
- Sieben, E J J, Ellery, William F N, Dullo, B W, Grootjans, A P
- Authors: Sieben, E J J , Ellery, William F N , Dullo, B W , Grootjans, A P
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144443 , vital:38346 , DOI: 10.2989/16085914.2015.1032208
- Description: The shore of Lake St Lucia in the vicinity of Catalina Bay, in the southern part of the lake, receives freshwater input as surface and groundwater seepage from the adjacent elevated coastal plain. Vegetation, water quality and landform were recorded on the lakeshore and on the dry lakebed near one of these seepage zones. This was done along a gradient perpendicular to the lakeshore and along the lakeshore away from the fluvial source of freshwater input. A number of plant communities were found along a gradient of water salinity from the shoreline (fresh water) towards the centre of the lake, and also away from the fluvial input of water (increasingly saline). Species richness decreased with increasing salinity. The first study was conducted in 2006 after a prolonged drought associated with low lake levels and closure of the mouth, and repeated again in 2010 three years after breaching of the estuarine mouth by a tropical cyclone at sea, which caused inundation of the partly dry lakebed with sea water. The vegetation of the lakeshore after these major disturbances was remarkably similar in the two time periods, suggesting rapid recovery near freshwater seepage zones, following an influx of sea water.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sieben, E J J , Ellery, William F N , Dullo, B W , Grootjans, A P
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144443 , vital:38346 , DOI: 10.2989/16085914.2015.1032208
- Description: The shore of Lake St Lucia in the vicinity of Catalina Bay, in the southern part of the lake, receives freshwater input as surface and groundwater seepage from the adjacent elevated coastal plain. Vegetation, water quality and landform were recorded on the lakeshore and on the dry lakebed near one of these seepage zones. This was done along a gradient perpendicular to the lakeshore and along the lakeshore away from the fluvial source of freshwater input. A number of plant communities were found along a gradient of water salinity from the shoreline (fresh water) towards the centre of the lake, and also away from the fluvial input of water (increasingly saline). Species richness decreased with increasing salinity. The first study was conducted in 2006 after a prolonged drought associated with low lake levels and closure of the mouth, and repeated again in 2010 three years after breaching of the estuarine mouth by a tropical cyclone at sea, which caused inundation of the partly dry lakebed with sea water. The vegetation of the lakeshore after these major disturbances was remarkably similar in the two time periods, suggesting rapid recovery near freshwater seepage zones, following an influx of sea water.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Assessment of the long-term response to rehabilitation of two wetlands in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:
- Cowden, Craig, Kotze, Donovan C, Ellery, William F N, Sieben, E J J
- Authors: Cowden, Craig , Kotze, Donovan C , Ellery, William F N , Sieben, E J J
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144431 , vital:38345 , DOI: 10.2989/16085914.2014.954518
- Description: Assessing the ecological outcomes of wetland rehabilitation activities is an important need recognised by the ‘Working for Wetlands’ programme in South Africa. An assessment of ecological response was conducted in the Killarney and Kruisfontein wetlands, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2005 prior to rehabilitation in 2006, and again in 2011 and 2012, respectively, following rehabilitation. The assessment criteria included an evaluation of changes in ecological integrity, the supply of ecosystem services, and vegetation composition. Improvements in hydrological and geomorphic integrity were recorded in both wetlands, resulting in improved ecosystem delivery.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Cowden, Craig , Kotze, Donovan C , Ellery, William F N , Sieben, E J J
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144431 , vital:38345 , DOI: 10.2989/16085914.2014.954518
- Description: Assessing the ecological outcomes of wetland rehabilitation activities is an important need recognised by the ‘Working for Wetlands’ programme in South Africa. An assessment of ecological response was conducted in the Killarney and Kruisfontein wetlands, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2005 prior to rehabilitation in 2006, and again in 2011 and 2012, respectively, following rehabilitation. The assessment criteria included an evaluation of changes in ecological integrity, the supply of ecosystem services, and vegetation composition. Improvements in hydrological and geomorphic integrity were recorded in both wetlands, resulting in improved ecosystem delivery.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Water chemistry and effect of evapotranspiration on chemical sedimentation on the Mkuze River floodplain, South Africa:
- Humphries, M S, Kindness, A, Ellery, William F N, Hughes, J C
- Authors: Humphries, M S , Kindness, A , Ellery, William F N , Hughes, J C
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144376 , vital:38340 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.01.013
- Description: The Mkuze Wetland System, forming part of the iSimangaliso World Heritage Site, is South Africa’s largest freshwater wetland area and is known to act as a sink for naturally occurring solutes within the landscape. The chemistry of groundwater and porewater samples, collected from two transects on the Mkuze River floodplain, was investigated to identify processes involved in the control of solute concentrations. Results show that solutes in the groundwater become increasingly concentrated under the influence of evapotranspiration, resulting in the saturation, precipitation, and accumulation of less soluble compounds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Humphries, M S , Kindness, A , Ellery, William F N , Hughes, J C
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144376 , vital:38340 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.01.013
- Description: The Mkuze Wetland System, forming part of the iSimangaliso World Heritage Site, is South Africa’s largest freshwater wetland area and is known to act as a sink for naturally occurring solutes within the landscape. The chemistry of groundwater and porewater samples, collected from two transects on the Mkuze River floodplain, was investigated to identify processes involved in the control of solute concentrations. Results show that solutes in the groundwater become increasingly concentrated under the influence of evapotranspiration, resulting in the saturation, precipitation, and accumulation of less soluble compounds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
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