A5074253150- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Marine and fisheries research
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Biodiversity
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research
- Geological formations and processes
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Mollusks and Parasites Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration
- Plant responses to water stress
Nelson Mandela University
2016-2025
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2013
Much uncertainty exists about the vulnerability of valuable tidal marsh ecosystems to relative sea level rise. Previous assessments resilience rise, which marshes can adjust by sediment accretion and elevation gain, revealed contrasting results, depending on contemporary or Holocene geological data. By analyzing globally distributed data, we found that increases in parity with seemingly confirming previously claimed resilience. However, subsidence substrate shows a nonlinear increase...
Tidal marshes store large amounts of organic carbon in their soils. Field data quantifying soil (SOC) stocks provide an important resource for researchers, natural managers, and policy-makers working towards the protection, restoration, valuation these ecosystems. We collated a global dataset tidal marsh (MarSOC) from 99 studies that includes location, depth, site name, dry bulk density, SOC, and/or matter (SOM). The MarSOC 17,454 points 2,329 unique locations, 29 countries. generated...
The protection, management and restoration of vegetated ecosystems on land in the ocean (‘natural climate solutions’) can be a useful strategy for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to help limit global warming. Their potential contribution has led development policies financial incentives their protection restoration. These have turn created set expectations among some stakeholders, interest expanding these encompass other ecosystems. However, there are specific rules about how abatement...
Sea-level rise is a significant threat to salt marshes. However, these habitats can respond by increasing their relative elevation, or migrating into adjacent areas. Here we provide the first report on surface elevation change for marsh at Knysna Estuary, South Africa, and predict responses of sea-level using Sea-Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM). Recent (2018) measurements lower intertidal sites were compared with those from 2009–2011. The long-term (1960–2017) (RSLR) was estimated as...
Abstract Latitudinal range limits for mangroves on high‐energy, wave‐dominated coasts are controlled by geomorphological features and estuarine dynamics. Mangroves reach a southern global limit along the South African coastline, but distribution is patchy, with stands occurring in only 16% of estuaries region. Yet, persistence forests planted >50 years ago beyond natural suggests that additional could support mangroves. Understanding regional drivers necessary to inform global‐scale...
Abstract Salt marshes occur globally across climatic and coastal settings, providing key linkages between terrestrial marine ecosystems. However, salt marsh science lacks a unifying conceptual framework; consequently, historically well‐studied locations have been used as normative benchmarks. To allow for more effective comparisons the diversity of marshes, we developed an integrative framework. We review ecosystem‐relevant drivers from global to local spatial scales, integrate these...
Abstract Tidal marshes are threatened coastal ecosystems known for their capacity to store large amounts of carbon in water-logged soils. Accurate quantification and mapping global tidal soil organic (SOC) stocks is considerable value conservation efforts. Here, we used training data from 3710 unique locations, landscape-level environmental drivers a marsh extent map produce global, spatially explicit SOC storage at 30 m resolution. Here show the total stock 1 be 1.44 Pg C, with third this...
Restoration of salt marsh is urgent, as these ecosystems provide natural coastal protection from sea-level rise impacts, contribute towards climate change mitigation, and multiple ecosystem services including supporting livelihoods. This study identified potential restoration sites for intervention where agricultural degraded land could be returned to at a national scale in South African estuaries. Overall, successful some estuaries will require addressing additional pressures such...
The recent dry phase experienced by the St Lucia estuarine system has led to unprecedented desiccation and hypersaline conditions through most of its surface area. This changed only recently, at end 2011, with onset a new wet that already caused major shift oligo- mesohaline conditions. estuary mouth, however, remains closed ocean, making weak connection recently established between Mfolozi estuaries conveyance for marine recruitment. As result, 10 indigenous two alien aquatic gastropod...
Abstract Grazing and burrowing organisms usually homogenise microalgal mats that form on benthic sediments of many aquatic ecosystems. In the absence this disruption, can accrete laminated deposits (stromatolites). Stromatolites are rare in modern coastal ecosystems, but persist at locations where metazoans largely excluded. This study aimed to assess trophic structure stromatolite co-occur, determine grazing influence exerted by stromatolite-forming microalgae (cyanobacteria diatoms)....
Abstract Tidal marshes are threatened coastal ecosystems known for their capacity to store large amounts of carbon in water-logged soils. Accurate quantification and mapping global tidal soil organic (SOC) stocks is considerable value conservation efforts. Here, we used training data from 3,710 unique locations, landscape-level environmental drivers a newly developed marsh extent map produce the first global, spatially-explicit SOC storage at 30 m resolution. We estimate total stock 1 be...
Background Chemical cues provide aquatic organisms with sensory information that guides behavioural responses and thus interactions among themselves, each other the environment. are considered important for predator avoidance, foraging, larval settlement broadcast spawning in environments. However, significance of their role as drivers direct between heterospecifics has been largely overlooked. Methodology/Principal Findings A video camera a demarcated arena were used situ to record three...
Deposit-feeding gastropods provide integral links between benthic productivity and higher trophic levels in a variety of aquatic environments. At high population densities these snails can exert significant grazing impact on available microphytobenthos (MPB). Here we the first report potential ingestion rates feeding freshwater thiarid Melanoides tuberculata. This species consists distinct morphs that have been introduced become invasive many areas New World. We used an situ fluorometric...
Mangroves occur in South African estuaries at their poleward distribution limits, extending into temperate habitats. In 1963, William Macnae published the first comprehensive assessment of mangrove swamps Africa and made firsthand observations these ecosystems. This article reassesses habitats, highlighting changes since Macnae's assessment, through a literature review research done past 50 years using results dedicated survey spanning 2012–2017. Until now, have been recorded mostly for...
Mangroves and salt marshes are globally recognized for their ability to efficiently sequester store carbon in biomass soil pools. An increase has been found at range limits where mangroves expanding along ecotones into marsh, as more per unit area. However, the magnitude of this trend is variable different mangrove depending on rates expansion local climatic geomorphological factors that influence current distribution. This study presents first account storage across a mangrove-salt marsh...
Potamonautes sidneyi Rathbun 1904, is a dominant freshwater crab in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Recent flood events the iSimangaliso Wetland Park have allowed substantial range expansion of this species, including previously hypersaline and desiccated areas. A stable isotope study was conducted to examine feeding habits populations from Lake Sibaya Mpophomeni Stream, two contrasting sites Park. Juveniles Stream were more depleted δ13C enriched δ15N compared adults, indicating carnivorous...