ESTUARIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Main Page	General Information	Catchment Characteristics	Land and Estuary Uses	Water Quality
Threats	Hydrodynamics and mouth dynamics	Physical Features	Climate	References
THUKELA ESTUARY: Ecology

	Flora
	Phytoplankton/Diatoms

	Algae

	Aquatic Vegetation

	Semi-aquatic Vegetation

	Terrestrial vegetation
	1978 (Ref.1): "Of prime botanical importance around the Tugela estuary is the 200 ha expanse of the Hlogwane Forest (Cooper, pers.comm.), which is a remnant of he indigenous coastal dune forest in a very fine state of preservation. It is also known as the Seula Bush and extends southwards in a narrow strip to the northern bank of the Zinkwasi lagoon. Besides this, due to encroachment of sugar cane onto the estuary surrounds (and eucalyptus plantations on the northern bank), the flora of the Tugela estuary has little resource of ecological value. "
	1999 (Ref.3): Roughly 8% of the Thukela catchment comprised degraded grassland, bushland and forest with some erosion also present. A high proportion of the catchment (75%) was natural and consisted mostly of grassland and bushland with some forest.

	Fauna
	Zooplankton
	1978 (Ref.1): "Grindley took zooplankton samples from the estuary in the late 1960’s but found the estuary to be barren in this regard".
	Aquatic Invertebrates

	Insects

	Fish
	1978 (Ref.1): "There is no information available on the fauna of the Tugela estuary. In the early 1900’s the Tugela lagoon was regarded as one of the few “unspoilt” fishing resorts on the Natal coast and mention of fish kraals in the lagoon was made (Mercury Pictorial, September 22, 1910)."
	Amphibians and Reptiles

	Birds
	1978 (Ref.1): "Because of the large sandbar and exposed sand banks/islands in the middle of the estuary, the Tugela is a fairly important site for estuarine dependent birds. Over the last few years Nicholls has observed 19 estuarine species and considers the Tugela estuary to be an important roosting site. The numbers of Little terns (up to 600) and Swift terns on the estuary are particularly noteworthy."
	Mammals