The role of microhabitats within mangroves: an invertebrate and fish larval perspective
- Authors: Vorsatz, Lyle Dennis
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Mangrove ecology -- South Africa , Mangrove forests -- South Africa , Niche (Ecology) , Rhizophora mucronata , Acanthaceae , Rhizophoraceae , Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa , Aquatic ecology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167644 , vital:41499
- Description: Microhabitats provided through structural complexity are central for the diversity, productivity, connectivity and niche differentiation within and among ecosystems. Mangrove forests afford juvenile fish and invertebrates with nursery and recruitment habitats, facilitated by the fine scale configuration of their specialised root systems. Although the importance of mangroves for resident and transient juveniles is well recognised, the roles that mangrove microhabitats play for larvae is not yet comprehensively understood. This study aimed to determine how microhabitats with varying degrees of complexity influence the composition, abundance and distribution of larval communities that inhabit mangrove forests and the physiological responses of larvae to acute temperature variations in relation to ontogenetic stage and microenvironment exposure. Two relatively pristine study sites were selected to represent a warm temperate and subtropical mangrove system in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast of South Africa, respectively. The differences in complexity among the root systems of Rhizophora mucronata, Avicennia marina and Bruguiera gymnorhiza were assessed using 3D scanning and the computed 3D models were then analysed using four complexity metrics. Results indicated that A. marina is the most complex in terms of surface-volume ratio, R. mucronata has the most interstitial space among its roots and B. gymnorhiza and R. mucronata differ in their fractal dimensions. Larvae collected in each microhabitat at each site using light traps showed that, despite temperature and salinity homogeneity across microenvironments, spatio-temporal differences occurred in both fish and invertebrate assemblages. This trend suggests that microhabitat structural complexity exerts an influence on larval community composition by acting as a microscape of available habitat, which ensures ecological linkages within and among the mangrove forest and adjacent ecosystems. In addition, the oxygen consumption rates of mangrove-associated brachyuran larvae varied according to mangrove microhabitat, whereby larvae collected at less complex environments had the highest metabolic rates at increased temperatures. Moreover, ontogenetic shifts in physiology were prevalent as older brachyuran larvae were more eurythermal than earlier stages, suggesting that thermally stressful events will have a greater impact on recently spawned larvae. Overall, the interstitial spaces within individual root systems are the most important complexity measure, as utilisation of these mangrove microhabitats is scale-dependent, and larvae will most likely occupy spaces inaccessible to large predators. Likewise, microscale variation in the environmental conditions and ontogenetic stage of brachyuran larvae within the mangrove microscape, can amplify the physiological responses to rapid temperature variations. Results suggest that early stage larvae are the most vulnerable to mass-mortality, and if thermally stressful events increase in frequency, duration and magnitude, the larval supply for the successful recruitment into adult populations could be under threat. Through linking how mangrove microhabitat complexity influences larvae in terms of community metrics and physiology, this study paves the way for further advancement of our understanding of how microscale processes emerge into meso- and macroscale patterns and influence the stability and functioning of highly productive ecosystems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
First report on carbon storage in warm-temperate mangroves of South Africa
- Authors: Johnson, Jaime Leigh
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mangrove ecology -- South Africa , Mangrove conservation Mangrove plants Mangrove management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31563 , vital:31581
- Description: Blue carbon is defined as the carbon sequestered and stored by coastal vegetated ecosystems including mangroves, seagrass and salt marsh. Research on blue carbon has rapidly escalated during the past decade following the 2009 United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) report, which highlighted the efficiency of these coastal habitats to act as carbon sinks. Mangrove forests in particular have been recognized for their significant role as carbon sinks and therefore have been prioritized in atmospheric carbon mitigation strategies. Despite global research efforts, there is still a notable knowledge gap on carbon storage potential of different mangrove tree species in underrepresented geographic regions. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of blue carbon for a mangrove forest in a warm temperate estuary in South Africa. Carbon storage was quantified for Avicennia marina mangrove stands at the Nxaxo Estuary; using both elemental analysis and loss on ignition (LOI) techniques for sediment carbon pools and only elemental analysis for aboveground biomass (leaf litter, pneumatophores, wood).The environmental characteristics were the same at the five sites sampled and this was related to the estuary being well-mixed and permanently open to the Indian Ocean. Unexpectedly the carbon content was weakly correlated with that measured by elemental analysis. The cause of this is unknown and could potentially be an avenue for further investigation. The carbon content measured from elemental analysis was used in further calculations, as this method is reliable and meets global standards for comparisons. For the aboveground carbon pools, the pneumatophores (2.1 × 10-3 Mg C ha-1) stored significantly more carbon compared to the live trees (3.35 × 10-4 Mg C ha-1) and leaf litter (2.84 × 10-6 Mg C ha-1). The sediment carbon pool (228.05 Mg C ha-1) stored significantly more carbon than the aboveground carbon pools, which is in line with the findings of other studies from different regions. Sediment carbon storage was not related to mangrove tree population structure or sediment characteristics, such as moisture content and particle size. However, sediment carbon storage was highest at Site 2 which was located in a depositional area of the estuary. The total carbon storage is 1140.25 Mg C for the mangrove area of 9.5 the Nxaxo Estuary; this is considerably lower than what has been recorded for other regions. In South Africa, mangroves in warm--temperate regions occur at one of the southernmost limits globally and are restricted to occurring in sheltered estuaries due to the high--energy nature of the coastline. As a result, the growth and productivity of mangroves in these regions can be influenced by estuarine and climatic dynamics. Although total carbon storage was not variable between different sites at this estuary, this might not be the case on a regional scale as variability is expected to occur between estuaries within South Africa. Comparing the data collected from this study and others done globally, it is clear that the capacity for carbon storage by mangroves is variable. Therefore, regional scale blue carbon studies should be undertaken to provide estimates from direct quantification and allometric equation approaches. Carbon storage has been recognized as a valuable ecosystem service; therefore, going forward, accurate estimations of storage potential is essential, particularly for climate change mitigation and emission offset projects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Revising the distribution of mangrove forests in South Africa and changes in growth of mangrove species along a latitudinal gradient
- Authors: Bolosha, Uviwe
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mangrove ecology -- South Africa , Mangrove forests -- South Africa , Mangrove plants -- South Africa -- Effect of temperature on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7544 , vital:21271
- Description: Mangrove forests are a diverse assemblage of trees and shrubs that are adapted to a saline and tidally inundated environment. The global spread of mangrove species is affected by climate, with most confined to areas that are warmer and moist. At a global scale, temperature limits the distribution of mangrove forests but on a regional scale and local scale, rainfall, river flow and tidal exchange have a strong effect on the distribution and biomass of mangrove forests. Other factors that play a role in limiting growth and distribution of mangroves include accessibility of suitable habitats for growth and also conditions that are suitable for propagule dispersal. The objectives of this study were to review the distribution of mangroves in South Africa and determine the number of extreme temperature events that may limit further distribution and secondly to measure growth rates of mangrove species at Mngazana and Nahoon Estuary and the nutrient pools in the sediment of these forests. In 1982, Ward and Steinke published a list of estuaries where mangroves were present. The current study sampled the population structure, microclimate and level of expansion in two estuaries within and outside of the published range. The minimum, maximum temperature and number of extreme temperature events were measured using iButtons. Mangrove expansion will be limited by minimum temperatures (1.1 ° C) and an increase in extreme temperature events (830) (<5 ° C and 5- 10 ° C) at the latitudinal limits. Expansion of A. marina at Kwelera and Tyolomnqa Estuary was evident but sapling survival was low. Mangroves have expanded within and outside the range proposed by Ward and Steinke (1982), but are limited by physical factors, restricted by the presence of saltmarsh and other estuarine macrophytes and natural disturbance regimes. An increase in population growth was recorded over the years at both Mngazana and Nahoon Estuary. Nutrients, (ammonium, nitrates + nitrites and soluble reactive phosphorus) varied amongst sites and were related to seasonality. Nitrogen in both estuaries was available in the form of ammonium (NH4) and its concentration was generally higher (1.3-76.2 pm) than other forms of nitrogen (0.07-6.3 µm). Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) was higher during the wet seasons in both estuaries. An increase in porewater salinity since 2007 (41.3 practical salinity unit (PSU)) was measured at Mngazana and this is a result of freshwater abstraction and low rainfall. A. marina saplings and adults grew significantly faster at Nahoon Estuary (the distributional limit) (11.1 ± 1.1 cm year-¹) compared to Mngazana Estuary (5.3 ± 1.8 cm year-¹). Different mangrove species and forests respond differently to environmental factors and changes in mangrove distribution is expected in South Africa but changes are expected to happen slowly and opportunistically.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017