An Estuary Ecosystem Classification that encompasses biogeography and a high diversity of types in support of protection and management

Van Niekerk, LaraAdams, JBJames, NCLamberth, SJMacKay, CFTurpie, JKRajkaran, AWeerts, Steven PWhitfield, AK2021-02-172021-02-172020-03Van Niekerk, L., Adams, J., James, N., Lamberth, S., MacKay, C., Turpie, J., Rajkaran, A. & Weerts, S.P. et al. 2020. An Estuary Ecosystem Classification that encompasses biogeography and a high diversity of types in support of protection and management. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 45(1-2). http://hdl.handle.net/10204/117771608-59141727-9364http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11777For nearly three decades, the Whitfield (1992) characterisation scheme served as a reference framework to type South African estuaries. We outline a revised ecosystem classification scheme that incorporates biogeographical zonation and introduces new types. Coastal outlets were re-categorised as estuaries or micro-systems. For functional estuaries, the Estuarine Lakes, Estuarine Bays and Predominantly Open Estuary types were largely retained. New types are Estuarine Lagoons and Arid Predominantly Closed Estuaries. The numerically dominant, temporarily open/closed category was subdivided into Small and Large Temporarily Closed Estuaries, with a total habitat area of 15 ha, serving as threshold separating these two subdivisions. River mouths were renamed Fluvially Dominated Estuaries and divided into large and small size categories to reflect dissimilar catchment influences. Micro-systems were separated into micro-estuaries, micro-outlets, and waterfalls. South Africa’s 290 estuaries were classified into 22 estuarine ecosystem categories arising from nine estuary types occurring across four biogeographical zones. In addition, 202 micro-systems were classified into nine ecosystem types, of which only the micro-estuaries (42) share possible functionality with estuaries. Estuaries subjected to functional shifts were also identified. The classification system provides a framework that integrates biogeography and the range of biophysical parameters evident in South Africa, and can be used for red listing of ecosystem types and determining estuarine sensitivity to pressures.FulltextenAridEstuarine baysEstuarine lagoonsEstuarine lakesFluvially dominated estuariesPredominantly closed estuariesPredominantly open estuariesTemporarily closed estuariesAn Estuary Ecosystem Classification that encompasses biogeography and a high diversity of types in support of protection and managementArticleVan Niekerk, L., Adams, J., James, N., Lamberth, S., MacKay, C., Turpie, J., ... Whitfield, A. (2020). An Estuary Ecosystem Classification that encompasses biogeography and a high diversity of types in support of protection and management. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 45(1-2), http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11777Van Niekerk, Lara, JB Adams, NC James, SJ Lamberth, CF MacKay, JK Turpie, A Rajkaran, Steven P Weerts, and AK Whitfield "An Estuary Ecosystem Classification that encompasses biogeography and a high diversity of types in support of protection and management." African Journal of Aquatic Science, 45(1-2) (2020) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11777Van Niekerk L, Adams J, James N, Lamberth S, MacKay C, Turpie J, et al. An Estuary Ecosystem Classification that encompasses biogeography and a high diversity of types in support of protection and management. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 45(1-2). 2020; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11777.TY - Article AU - Van Niekerk, Lara AU - Adams, JB AU - James, NC AU - Lamberth, SJ AU - MacKay, CF AU - Turpie, JK AU - Rajkaran, A AU - Weerts, Steven P AU - Whitfield, AK AB - For nearly three decades, the Whitfield (1992) characterisation scheme served as a reference framework to type South African estuaries. We outline a revised ecosystem classification scheme that incorporates biogeographical zonation and introduces new types. Coastal outlets were re-categorised as estuaries or micro-systems. For functional estuaries, the Estuarine Lakes, Estuarine Bays and Predominantly Open Estuary types were largely retained. New types are Estuarine Lagoons and Arid Predominantly Closed Estuaries. The numerically dominant, temporarily open/closed category was subdivided into Small and Large Temporarily Closed Estuaries, with a total habitat area of 15 ha, serving as threshold separating these two subdivisions. River mouths were renamed Fluvially Dominated Estuaries and divided into large and small size categories to reflect dissimilar catchment influences. Micro-systems were separated into micro-estuaries, micro-outlets, and waterfalls. South Africa’s 290 estuaries were classified into 22 estuarine ecosystem categories arising from nine estuary types occurring across four biogeographical zones. In addition, 202 micro-systems were classified into nine ecosystem types, of which only the micro-estuaries (42) share possible functionality with estuaries. Estuaries subjected to functional shifts were also identified. The classification system provides a framework that integrates biogeography and the range of biophysical parameters evident in South Africa, and can be used for red listing of ecosystem types and determining estuarine sensitivity to pressures. DA - 2020-03 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR J1 - African Journal of Aquatic Science, 45(1-2) KW - Arid KW - Estuarine bays KW - Estuarine lagoons KW - Estuarine lakes KW - Fluvially dominated estuaries KW - Predominantly closed estuaries KW - Predominantly open estuaries KW - Temporarily closed estuaries LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2020 SM - 1608-5914 SM - 1727-9364 T1 - An Estuary Ecosystem Classification that encompasses biogeography and a high diversity of types in support of protection and management TI - An Estuary Ecosystem Classification that encompasses biogeography and a high diversity of types in support of protection and management UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11777 ER -23288