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Flora |
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Phytoplankton/Diatoms |
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No
data |
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Algae |
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Aquatic
Vegetation |
|
GF
van Wyk (1963) records that dense patches of Potamogeton occur above
the old national road bridge but that Zostera is entirely
absent. No aquatic vegetation was found in the lower part of the
estuary during the ECRU survey in August 1980. (Ref 1) |
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Semi-aquatic
Vegetation |
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According to Day (1981) "The banks
inland of the coastal sand dunes were muddy with salt marshes on the
west bank and on an almost isolated lagoon on the east bank.
Where the estuary cuts through the bare coastal dunes. the wind-blown
sand continually encroaches on the channel so that the banks are clean
sand". (Ref 1) |
|
The steep banks, particularly on the
eastern side upstream of the pipeline crossing the river, are lined
with fairly dense patches of Phragmites reeds (ECRU Survey).
Isolated patches of sparse Phragmites occur in the lower reaches of
the estuary. (Ref 1) |
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Terrestrial
vegetation |
|
According
to Acocks, the vegetation of the floodplain and slopes of the Gamtoos
River Valley are classified as Valley Bushveld. The Acocks map
on Veld types also shows a small pocket of Alexandria Forest occurring
on the western bank of the river near the mouth, along the coast
behind the coastal dunes and up the Kabeljous River valley. (Ref
1) |
|
Heydorn
and Tinley (1980) state that the Gamtoos coastal vegetation includes
Dune and Clay thicket. The following plant species were found
during the ECRU survey: |
|
- Sideroxylon inerme
- Euclea racemosa
- Rhus glauca Pterocelastrus
tricuspidatus
- Tarconanthus camphoratus
- Arborescent Euphorbia,
- Aloes Pappea capensis
- Portulacaria afra
- Maytenus heterophylla
- Schotia
afra
(Ref 1)
|
|
The
vegetation in the vicinity of the Gamtoos rivermouth is described by
Cowling (1980) as a "Broad leaf sclerophyll scrubland to woodland
with a high incidence of spiny plants and succulents". (Ref
1) |
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Fauna |
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Zooplankton |
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No
published data. |
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Aquatic
Invertebrates |
|
The
barnacle Balanus elizabethae and colonies of polychaete worms,
Ficopomatus enigmatica were found growing on the pylons of the nes
national highway bridge during the ECRU survey in August 1980. (Ref
1) |
|
- Mud prawn, Upogebia
- Sand prawn,Calliannassa sp.
- White mussel, Donax serra
- Pencil bait, Solen
- Giant river crab, Scylla serrata
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Insects |
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No
data |
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Fish |
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Kob,
Spotted grunter, White steenbras, Harders and Springer and Sea-barbel
occur in the estuary(Ref
1) |
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Amphibians
and Reptiles |
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Brown
water snake, Slug-eater, Boomslang, Cross-marked grass-snake, Coral
snake, Rinkhals, Cape cobra, common sea-snake, Rhombic night-adder,
African puff-adder. Tortoise. |
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Birds |
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List
of birds found in the estuary |
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Mammals |
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Schreibers
bat, Egyptian fruitbat, Hottentot golden mole, Chacma baboon,
Aardvark, Bushbuck, Bush karoo rat, Vlei rat, Striped mouse, Namaqua
rock rat, Multimammate rat, Black rat, Forest mouse, Cape porcupine,
Striped polecat, Lynx. (Ref
1) |
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