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Flora |
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Phytoplankton/Diatoms |
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Algae |
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Aquatic
Vegetation |
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Semi-aquatic
Vegetation |
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Terrestrial
vegetation |
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1978
(Ref.1): "It
is interesting to note that in he 1950’s Day commented on the
presence of a mangrove/reed swamp community only on the northern bank
of the estuary. The area where these occurred appears to have become
lost to the estuary since the new bridge was built at the mouth. He
also made mention of large reed swamps on the southern bank, and a Hibiscus
tiliaceus fringe on step banks below the town. Urban encroachment
(on the southern bank) and sugar cane, has replaced most of the
vegetation around the estuary. Mention is made of resfue being used to
reclaim swamp land in the past. A few forested slopes remain on the
northern bank, where the terrain is too steep for cultivation." |
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1978 (Ref.1):
"The
only botanical communities of any value remaining around the estuary
are both on the southern side.
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A
mangrove community amongst which a new ski boat base has
been proposed. The cutting of mangroves (for
hut construction) and the ring barking of mangroves (for medicinal
reasons) is one threat to which these trees are presently
subjected. Drainage channels leading from the
swamp have also become blocked, with the result that fresh water
is becoming impounded and killing certain parts of the swamp.
- The
forested valley of the Impisini Nature Reserve, which is +/- 40 ha
in size."
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About
7%
of the catchment comprised degraded shrubland and bushland. A large
proportion of the
Mkomazi catchment (72%) was natural. This was mostly made up of
grassland, bushland
and
forest. (Ref 2) |
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Fauna |
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Zooplankton |
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Aquatic
Invertebrates |
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1978
(Ref.1): "Day
considered the bottom fauna of the Mkomazi estuary to be poor after
his survey in 1950 and attributed this to “muddiness”. 18 species
of benthic animals were found amoungst which Upogebia,
Macrobrachium spp and various crabs (Sesarma, Uca) and the
gastropod (Cerithidia decllata) were common in the mangrove
community. Apeudes (a tanaid) was also common in the estuary,
but no penaeid prawns were present. According to Brown the
gastropod Neritina gagates was collected from the Mkomazi in
1939.
Burton
also commented on the sparseness of the benthic
fauna in the estuary in 1955. Only three species were present in the
sand. The isopod (Pontogeloides latipes) was found in numbers
of up to 200 /m2 near the mouth. This is suggestive of
marked deterioration within 5 years. Upogebia and a species of
swimming prawn are still present, the latter
amongst marginal vegetation. Caridina nilotica (a shrimp) have
been taken from this niche 2 km above the estuary in 1972." |
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Insects |
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Fish |
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Amphibians
and Reptiles |
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Birds |
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Mammals |
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