ISSN:
1432-1793
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The infratidal zonation of animals in a 35 m deep fjord-like South African estuary is described. The barnacle Balanus amphitrite Darwin and the bivalve Musculus virgiliae Barnard form the uppermost zone and extend to a depth of 9 m. The oyster Crassostrea margaritacea (Lam.) forms a zone between 1 and 3 m depth while the sponge Grantessa ramosa (Haeckel) occurs between 3 and 7 m. The tubiculous polychaete Mercierella enigmatica Fauvel is the only species found below 10 m, and attains a depth of 33 m. In the wet season (summer) the surface salinity dropped to 2‰ and temperatures rose to 24°C. In the dry season (winter) surface salinity rose to 24‰ and temperatures dropped to 16°C. Salinity and temperature of deep water (6 to 33 m) were more stable and varied only between 32.5 and 35‰ and between 19.6° and 20.5°C, respectively. In June, water below 12 m was 50 to 60% saturated with oxygen but this declined to less than 5% saturation in January.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00388502
