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SWARTLINTJIES RIVER ESTUARY: Ecology
  Flora
Phytoplankton/Diatoms
The green colour of the water in the excavated trenches adjacent ot the estuary was apparently due to the presence of phytoplankton.
Algae
Fragments of filamentous algae were present in a water sample collected from the small pool.  The northern most trench situated parallel to the shoreline had dense mats of filamentous algae floating on its surface at the time of the ECRU survery. (Ref 1)
Algae present in the inter-tidal zone off the Swartlintjies Estuary included:
  • Ecklonia maxima
  • Ulva sp.
  • Cladophora capensis
  • Porphyra capensis
  • Caulacanthus divaricatus
  • Chaetanginum ovale
  • Champia lumbricalis       (Ref 1)
 
Aquatic Vegetation
 
Semi-aquatic Vegetation
The only species found at the Swartlintjies Estuary which could be considered as semi-aquatic when water is present in the system are the saltmarsh plants such as Sarcocornia natalense, Sarcocornia pillansii and Eragrostis sabulosa which is also present along the coast just above High Spring tide level. (Ref1)
Terrestrial vegetation
Six main vegetation mapping units were identified.  The Sacocornia natalense/pillansii Saltmarsh has the highest cover (100%) and the lowest species diversity (2 species), while the Eragrostis cyperoides/Eragrostis sabulosa Grassland has the highest species diversity (18 species) and lowest cover (25%).  The height ranges from 0,75m (Eragrostis cyperoides Dune Grassland) to 0,15m of the Lampranhtus sp. (Le Roux and Parsons 29) Dwarf  Shrubland (Ref 1)
The six mapping units were consolidated into three main plant formations of Grassland, Dwarf Shrubland and Saltmarsh.  Of these the Grassland was the most extensive covering an area of approximatley (19,22ha) followed by the Dwarf Shrubland (6,50ha) and Saltmarsh (2,84ha) of the total of 42,16 ha studied.  (Ref 1)
 
 
Fauna
Zooplankton
Two species of Harpacticoid copepods ( an orange and white sp.) as well as some small larval forms, were present.
Aquatic Invertebrates

Limpets, Marine snails, Black Mussels, Cape Reef Worm
Insects
Hydrophilid beetle (Berosus spretus) and beetle larvae were found, bladder grasshopper (Pneumoridae) and tenebrionid beetle were collected.
Fish
Mullet
Amphibians and Reptiles
Barking gecko
Birds
South African Shelduck, Sanderling, Avocet, Red-knobbed Coot, White-fronted Sandplover, Curlew Sandpiper, African Sand Martin, Stilt, Blacksmith Plover, Cape Wagtail, Stone Chat, Pied Crow, Three-banded Sandplover. (Ref 1)
Mammals
Porcupine, Water Mongoose, Steenbok, Grey Duiker (Ref1)

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