The role of tides in redistributing macrodetrital aggregates within the Swartvlei estuary |
| |
| Authors: | Alan K Whitfield |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Institute for Freshwater Studies, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, 6140, Grahamstown, South Africa
|
| |
| Abstract: | The Swartvlei estuary possesses a prolific growth of both intertidal and subtidal eelgrass,Zostera capensis. During 1984 less than 12% of the eelgrass beds were located in the upper half of the estuary, yet deposition ofZostera/macroalgal wrack in this region, when the estuary was linked to the sea (open phase), was similar to that in the lower half. Over a period of 20 semidiurnal tidal cycles there was a net gain of 2.5 tonnes dry mass of plant material into the upper reaches. Export of aquatic macrophytes and filamentous algae from the lower reaches toward the sea over 20 tidal cycles amounted to 1.6 tonnes dry mass. The amount of plant material transported during spring tides was 2 to 3 times greater than that carried during neap tides. Shallowing of the estuary mouth due to sand deposition resulted in a decline in the tidal prism and a decrease in macrodetrital flux. Total export ofZostera and associated algae amounted to 0.87 g ash-free dry mass m?2d?1 and represented a monthly export of 18% ofZostera bed biomass. Deposition of plant wrack during the 1984–1985 closed phase amounted to 63 g dry mass per meter of shore per day at the lower reaches site but only 10 g m?1d?1 was recorded at the upper reaches site. The relatively low latter value was attributed to the absence of tidal action which transports macrodetritus from the lower and middle reaches into the upper part of the system. During the 1984 open phase 70 g m?1d?1 was deposited at the lower reaches site and 68 g m?1d?1 at the upper reaches site. The role of tides in the redistribution of aquatic macrophyte primary production in the Swartvlei estuary was therefore clearly underscored. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
