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Flora |
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Phytoplankton/Diatoms |
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No
published information could be traced and no data on phytoplankton and
diatoms were collected during the ECRU survey. (Ref 1) |
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Algae |
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Aquatic
Vegetation |
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Estuary
At Grid ref. 2206 small amounts of
filamentous algae were growing on roots and debris of other vegetation
in the pans. At Grid ref. 2007 dense algal mats were present
along the edges of the narrow, shallow channels. (Ref 1)
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Adjacent
shoreline
In the inter-tidal zone opposite the
mouth the following marine algae were identified:
Caulacanthus divaricatus, Bifurcaria
brassicaeformis, Ecklonia maxima, Codium duthiae, laminaria pallida,
Chaetomorpha sp., Cladophora capensis, Lithothamnion spp., Ulva sp.,
Porphyra capensis, Corraline alga, Suhria vittata. (Ref 1) |
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Semi-aquatic
Vegetation |
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At Grid ref. 2206 the following species
were noted: Eragrostis sabulosa, Cotula coronipifolia, Juncus
kraussii and Sarcocornia sp. (Ref 1) |
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Terrestrial
vegetation |
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This
area falls into Acock's Veld Type 34, Strandveld proper which he
describes as an open semi-succulent scrub (Acocks 1975). The
area around the river has however been subject to intensive human
interference.
Nine main plant communities were
identified. These can be consolidated into five main plant
formations namely, reedswamp, saltmarsh, grassland, low shrubland and
dwarf shrubland. The low shrubland covers the largest area followed by
the grassland, reedswamp, saltmarsh and dwarf shrubland. There
is also a large zone of intensive human use which is represented
mainly by the golf course. (Ref 1)
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Fauna |
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Zooplankton |
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No
data available (Ref 1) |
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Aquatic
Invertebrates |
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Rock
lobster, crab and cuttlefish cartilages were found on the beach.
(Ref 1) |
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Insects |
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The
entire surface of the dried out mudpans, occuring between vegetation,
has a powdery texture which was caused by "earthworm-like"
mounds. This was due to the burrowing of a small Carabid beetle
Pagonus lamprus. (Ref 1) |
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Fish |
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A
shoal of juvenile mullet were seen in the shallows along the
beach. (Ref 1) |
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Amphibians
and Reptiles |
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The
small Namaqua Rain Frog occurs in the dunes near the mouth of the
river. (Ref 1) |
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Birds |
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White
fronted Sandplover, Curlew Sandpiper, Turnstone, Sanderling, Coot,
Ringed Plover, Ruff,Cape Wagtail, White-breasted Cormorant, Cape
Cormorant, Southern Black-backed gull, Hartlaub's Gull, Grey-headed
Gull, Common Sandpiper, Stilt, South African Shelduck, African
Sandmartin, Cape Wagtail, White-throated Swallow, Greenshank,
Blacksmith Plover, Karoo Scrub Robin, Masked Weaver, Pied Starling,
Wattled Starling, Red Bishop Bird, Stone chat, Namaqua dove, Rock
Pigeon, Cape Sparrow. (Ref 1) |
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Mammals |
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Surface
burrowing mole, tracks of water Mongoose and Bat-eared fox or Silver
fox. (Ref 1) |
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Black-backed
Jakkal, Porcupine, Steenbuck, Cape Wild Cat and Water Mongoose
(Ref 1) |
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