Human-mediated drivers of change—impacts on coastal ecosystems and marine biota of South Africa
- Mead, A, Griffiths, C L, Branch, G M, McQuaid, Christopher D, Blamey, L K, Bolton, J J, Anderson, R J, Dufois, F, Rouault, M, Froneman, P William, Whitfield, Alan K, Harris, L R, Nel, R, Pillay, D, Adams, J B
- Authors: Mead, A , Griffiths, C L , Branch, G M , McQuaid, Christopher D , Blamey, L K , Bolton, J J , Anderson, R J , Dufois, F , Rouault, M , Froneman, P William , Whitfield, Alan K , Harris, L R , Nel, R , Pillay, D , Adams, J B
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480871 , vital:78489 , https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2013.830147
- Description: Coastal ecosystems are highly vulnerable to human-mediated drivers of global change because they are located at the land–ocean interface and often host centres of urbanisation and development. The South African coastline comprises several distinct coastal ecoregions that support a wide range of coastal (inshore) ecosystems, including rocky, sandy and mixed shores, kelp beds, estuaries and seagrass communities. A growing body of evidence indicates that local air and sea temperatures, wind patterns, ocean current speed and upwelling regimes are all being affected by human-mediated climate change. In addition, anthropogenic activities, such as shipping (introducing coastal bioinvasives), exploitation of coastal marine resources, industry (releasing pollutants) and urban development, act synergistically with climate change to place pressure on coastal ecosystems and their biota. The aim of this review was primarily to synthesise and update research into causes of direct and indirect human-mediated global change and their effects on South African coastal systems. It incorporates both historic and the latest regional research on climate change and anthropogenic threats across the ecosystems listed above, much of which was supported by the South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Research (SANCOR), specifically the SEAChange programme in recent years.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mead, A , Griffiths, C L , Branch, G M , McQuaid, Christopher D , Blamey, L K , Bolton, J J , Anderson, R J , Dufois, F , Rouault, M , Froneman, P William , Whitfield, Alan K , Harris, L R , Nel, R , Pillay, D , Adams, J B
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480871 , vital:78489 , https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2013.830147
- Description: Coastal ecosystems are highly vulnerable to human-mediated drivers of global change because they are located at the land–ocean interface and often host centres of urbanisation and development. The South African coastline comprises several distinct coastal ecoregions that support a wide range of coastal (inshore) ecosystems, including rocky, sandy and mixed shores, kelp beds, estuaries and seagrass communities. A growing body of evidence indicates that local air and sea temperatures, wind patterns, ocean current speed and upwelling regimes are all being affected by human-mediated climate change. In addition, anthropogenic activities, such as shipping (introducing coastal bioinvasives), exploitation of coastal marine resources, industry (releasing pollutants) and urban development, act synergistically with climate change to place pressure on coastal ecosystems and their biota. The aim of this review was primarily to synthesise and update research into causes of direct and indirect human-mediated global change and their effects on South African coastal systems. It incorporates both historic and the latest regional research on climate change and anthropogenic threats across the ecosystems listed above, much of which was supported by the South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Research (SANCOR), specifically the SEAChange programme in recent years.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
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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