Phumlile Cotiyane-Pondo

South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) · Elwandle Coastal Node

Benthic diatoms form an important component of the microphytobenthos and have long been utilised as suitable bioindicators in aquatic systems. However, knowledge on benthic diatom community succession on hard substrata (biofilm) remains understudied in austral marine coastal systems. In this study, we investigated benthic diatom colonisation on art...

Marine epilithic diatom abundance and species richness are highly variable along the South African coastline. To determine the variability in spatial diversity and benthic-pelagic exchanges, we conducted a baseline study of the Bird Island ecosystem in Algoa Bay. Diatom samples were collected from the rocky substrate and the adjacent water column i...

The knowledge on the composition and spatial distribution of marine benthic diatoms around the coast of South Africa remains limited. Epilithic diatom assemblages from natural intertidal rocky substrate and physico-chemical variables were investigated during July–August in 2016 and 2017 along the South African coastline. A total of 85 diatom taxa f...

Mangrove-dominated estuaries are highly dynamic and productive systems. The Mngazana Estuary occurs in the subtropical biogeographical region along the east coast of South Africa. The present study assessed the water column dynamics in the mangrove-dominated estuary by investigating the response of phytoplankton to the variability in environmental...

Estuaries are under intense pressure, because of urban developments and water abstraction. Water column characteristics of the Nahoon Estuary were examined in 2014–2015 to identify factors that influenced phytoplankton dynamics. The estuary was found to be saline (∼33) and remained well-oxygenated (∼6 mg l⁻¹) throughout the current study. During th...

The southern distributional limit for mangroves on the east coast of Africa is thought to be at the planted mangrove forest at Nahoon Estuary (33° S) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This study investigated the influence of a tidal creek on the intertidal zone and the physical and biological differences between the salt marsh and mangrove forest...