Princess Vlei : what diatoms can tell us about spatial and temporal heterogeneity in an urban wetland

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dc.contributor.advisorMeadows, Michael Een_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorKirsten, Kellyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorCowan, Oliveren_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-08-08T06:49:03Z
dc.date.available2017-08-08T06:49:03Z
dc.date.issued2010en_ZA
dc.description.abstractGlobally, wetlands are being degraded and destroyed largely as a result of anthropogenic activity. Monitoring and assessment are required to maintain functional ecosystems and the valuable services they provide. Surface sediment cores were taken from 4 points around an urban wetland (Princess Vlei) on the Cape Flats, Cape Town, South Africa. Diatoms were and used as a proxy for water quality variables to determine whether the diatom flora preserved in organic sediments accumulating in and around an urban wetland is a useful tool in determining the changes in water quality over time. In addition, the project attempts to establish whether there are spatial patterns in diatom flora within a small lake. Diatoms from three depths from each of the four sites were identified, counted and analyzed according to their trophic preferences and pollution tolerances which were acquired from a variety of resources. Results showed clear spatial differences between sites as a result of positioning in relation to effluent input, output and specific site characteristics such as reed stands. Differences between depths were evident although no significant trends were observed. In summation; spatial heterogeneity in the diatom assemblage of an urban wetland reveal that diatoms are suitable indicators of water quality, even within a small system, due to their niche specificity. The project also shows that Princess Vlei remains a eutrophic and polluted wetland, although not uniformly so. Continual monitoring is required to prevent the vlei from becoming a health hazard for the surrounding community and to maintain its ability to act as a buffering zone to protect the Rondevlei nature reserve, as well as acting as a functional ecosystem in an area threatened by urbanization.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationCowan, O. (2010). <i>Princess Vlei : what diatoms can tell us about spatial and temporal heterogeneity in an urban wetland</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24854en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationCowan, Oliver. <i>"Princess Vlei : what diatoms can tell us about spatial and temporal heterogeneity in an urban wetland."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24854en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationCowan, O. 2010. Princess Vlei : what diatoms can tell us about spatial and temporal heterogeneity in an urban wetland. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Cowan, Oliver AB - Globally, wetlands are being degraded and destroyed largely as a result of anthropogenic activity. Monitoring and assessment are required to maintain functional ecosystems and the valuable services they provide. Surface sediment cores were taken from 4 points around an urban wetland (Princess Vlei) on the Cape Flats, Cape Town, South Africa. Diatoms were and used as a proxy for water quality variables to determine whether the diatom flora preserved in organic sediments accumulating in and around an urban wetland is a useful tool in determining the changes in water quality over time. In addition, the project attempts to establish whether there are spatial patterns in diatom flora within a small lake. Diatoms from three depths from each of the four sites were identified, counted and analyzed according to their trophic preferences and pollution tolerances which were acquired from a variety of resources. Results showed clear spatial differences between sites as a result of positioning in relation to effluent input, output and specific site characteristics such as reed stands. Differences between depths were evident although no significant trends were observed. In summation; spatial heterogeneity in the diatom assemblage of an urban wetland reveal that diatoms are suitable indicators of water quality, even within a small system, due to their niche specificity. The project also shows that Princess Vlei remains a eutrophic and polluted wetland, although not uniformly so. Continual monitoring is required to prevent the vlei from becoming a health hazard for the surrounding community and to maintain its ability to act as a buffering zone to protect the Rondevlei nature reserve, as well as acting as a functional ecosystem in an area threatened by urbanization. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - Princess Vlei : what diatoms can tell us about spatial and temporal heterogeneity in an urban wetland TI - Princess Vlei : what diatoms can tell us about spatial and temporal heterogeneity in an urban wetland UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24854 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/24854
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationCowan O. Princess Vlei : what diatoms can tell us about spatial and temporal heterogeneity in an urban wetland. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2010 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24854en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherBotanyen_ZA
dc.titlePrincess Vlei : what diatoms can tell us about spatial and temporal heterogeneity in an urban wetlanden_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBSc (Hons.)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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