The Ecology of South African Estuaries

Millard, N. A. H.; Harrison, A. D.

doi:10.1080/00359195409518983

Cited by 36 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Faunal lists from St Lucia (DAY et al, 1954;MILLARD and BBOEKHUYSEN, 1970) were compared with the three other major Natal estuarine systems, Kosi Bay (BROEKHUYSEN and TAYLOR, 1959;WHITFIELO, 1980), Richards Bay (MILLARD and HARRISON, 1954) and Durban Bay (DAY and MORGANS, 1956) (Table 2). Durban Bay, although now severely impacted by harbour development, was at one stage very much richer in species than other Natal coastal bodies of water.…”

Section: -Species Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological effects of salinity gradient reversals in a southeast African estuarine lake

Forbes

Cyrus

1993

Netherlands Journal of Aquatic Ecology

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St Lucia Lake on the north coast of Natal, South Africa, has an area of 325 km 2 and is the largest estuarine complex in Africa. It consists of a 20 km tidal channel, averaging ca. 400 m in width, linking the sea with the non-tidal lake which is H-shaped with a maximum length of ca. 40 km and width of ca. 20 kin. Except during flood periods the depth of the lake does not exceed 2 m. The salinity gradient depends on evaporation, the configuration of the mouth and on the input of fresh water from four rivers which discharge into the northern and western areas of the lake. If fresh water input is high, the lake and much of the channel may be fresh. An intermediate stage features a normal salinity gradient while a third stage shows a reversed salinity gradient with salinities in excess of 100%o in the upper reaches of the system. Changing salinities have marked effects on the biota. Aquatic macrophytes show cycles of appearance and disappearance depending on salinity tolerance and the presence of dormant stages. The resident benthic faunal species go through cycles of range expansion and contraction depending on prevailing salinities and recolonisation by dispersal phases. To date salinities in the southern part of the lake have approached, but not exceeded, lethal levels and this has therefore acted as a reservoir area. Catchment degradation and water abstraction are anticipated to exacerbate future salinity extremes. This has resulted in concern for the long term viability of this Ramsar site which has major southern African populations of hippopotamus and crocodile, provides breeding sites for South African Red Data water bird species and plays an important nursery role for marine fish and penaeid prawns.

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Section: -Species Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological effects of salinity gradient reversals in a southeast African estuarine lake

Forbes

Cyrus

1993

Netherlands Journal of Aquatic Ecology

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“…Before harbour construction the system functioned as an estuarine lake, according to the classification by Whitfield (1992), and had a 'normal salinity gradient' from the mouth to the river inlets (Millard and Harrison 1954). Grindley and Wooldridge (1974) reported similar conditions during the period 1970-1971, just before construction of the harbour commenced.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two smaller rivers, the Bhizolo and Manzinyama, opened into the western end of the original estuary. The rivers drained through extensive reed swamps (Millard and Harrison 1954).…”

Section: Manuscript Received January 2006; Accepted October 2007mentioning

confidence: 99%

The zooplankton community of Richards Bay Harbour and adjacent Mhlathuze Estuary, South Africa

Jerling

2008

African Journal of Marine Science

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“…Both are considered artificial owing to extensive dredging activities at the harbour mouths and within the harbour areas (Whitfield 1998). Richards Bay was regarded as an estuarine lake (Millard and Harrison 1954), but after the development of the commercial harbour its characteristics changed to those of a marine-dominated estuarine embayment (Begg 1978). This change affected the fauna and flora of the harbour by reducing the shallow areas, nutritive substrates, marginal vegetation, eelgrass beds and mangroves, and the widening of the harbour mouth also allowed an increase in tidal flow into the harbour (Begg 1978).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of recreational boat-angling in a large estuarine embayment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Everett¹,

Fennessy²

2007

African Journal of Marine Science

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The Ecology of South African Estuaries

Cited by 36 publications

References 4 publications

Biological effects of salinity gradient reversals in a southeast African estuarine lake

Biological effects of salinity gradient reversals in a southeast African estuarine lake

The zooplankton community of Richards Bay Harbour and adjacent Mhlathuze Estuary, South Africa

Assessment of recreational boat-angling in a large estuarine embayment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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