The contribution by phytoplankton, bacteria and detritus to a rocky shore ecosystem

dc.contributor.advisorBranch, George
dc.contributor.authorCliff, Geremy
dc.date.accessioned2023-10-02T09:39:49Z
dc.date.available2023-10-02T09:39:49Z
dc.date.issued1979
dc.date.updated2023-10-02T09:08:59Z
dc.description.abstractAn investigation has been carried out on the particulate organic matter (IU-1) in suspension over the large inter-- and subtidal reef at Dalebrook in False Bay, standing stocks of hytoplankton, bacteria and detritus were monitored for 13 months, at three localities on the reef, on incoming and outgoing tides. A number of seasonal trends recharge, despite day-to-day variation in t."'1ese stocks. In spring and summer chlorophyll levels were la, 1 - 2 µg/1. Due to the extrerrely lcw nitrate concentrations ( < 2 µg at/1) and to a lesser extent, silicates ( < 6 µg at/1) , little autochthonous phytoplankton production was recorded over this period. Concentrations of nitrates, silicates and chlorcphyll a were highest at the offshore edge of the reef in incoming water. After a strong south-easterly win:i, chlorophyll concentrations of 19 µg/1 were rerorded O, 5 km offshore. Chlorophy 11 concentrations were in the region of 5 µg/1 in winter. Detritus accounted for aln'Ost 80% of the Pa1 and never dropped bela, O, 5 :rrg/1. There were no marked spatial and tidal influences on the mass of detritus in suspension. However, considerable import and export of material is believed to be associated with the strong water m,vements over the reef. Most of the detritus was in advanced stages of deconposition, making it extremely difficult to determine its origin. A Coulter Counter provided particle size spectra over the range 5 - 112 µm. It was found that particles with apparent diameters of 10 - 30 iirn contributed the highest volurre. Bacterial densities ranged fran 4 x 105 to 16 x 105 cells/ml; nurrbers were highest in late surmer and autumn. 95% of the cells were not attached to particles but were free in suspension. These results are canpared with those fran other inshore envirorurents.
dc.identifier.apacitationCliff, G. (1979). <i>The contribution by phytoplankton, bacteria and detritus to a rocky shore ecosystem</i>. (). ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39000en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationCliff, Geremy. <i>"The contribution by phytoplankton, bacteria and detritus to a rocky shore ecosystem."</i> ., ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1979. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39000en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationCliff, G. 1979. The contribution by phytoplankton, bacteria and detritus to a rocky shore ecosystem. . ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39000en_ZA
dc.identifier.risTY - Master Thesis AU - Cliff, Geremy AB - An investigation has been carried out on the particulate organic matter (IU-1) in suspension over the large inter-- and subtidal reef at Dalebrook in False Bay, standing stocks of hytoplankton, bacteria and detritus were monitored for 13 months, at three localities on the reef, on incoming and outgoing tides. A number of seasonal trends recharge, despite day-to-day variation in t."'1ese stocks. In spring and summer chlorophyll levels were la, 1 - 2 µg/1. Due to the extrerrely lcw nitrate concentrations ( < 2 µg at/1) and to a lesser extent, silicates ( < 6 µg at/1) , little autochthonous phytoplankton production was recorded over this period. Concentrations of nitrates, silicates and chlorcphyll a were highest at the offshore edge of the reef in incoming water. After a strong south-easterly win:i, chlorophyll concentrations of 19 µg/1 were rerorded O, 5 km offshore. Chlorophy 11 concentrations were in the region of 5 µg/1 in winter. Detritus accounted for aln'Ost 80% of the Pa1 and never dropped bela, O, 5 :rrg/1. There were no marked spatial and tidal influences on the mass of detritus in suspension. However, considerable import and export of material is believed to be associated with the strong water m,vements over the reef. Most of the detritus was in advanced stages of deconposition, making it extremely difficult to determine its origin. A Coulter Counter provided particle size spectra over the range 5 - 112 µm. It was found that particles with apparent diameters of 10 - 30 iirn contributed the highest volurre. Bacterial densities ranged fran 4 x 105 to 16 x 105 cells/ml; nurrbers were highest in late surmer and autumn. 95% of the cells were not attached to particles but were free in suspension. These results are canpared with those fran other inshore envirorurents. DA - 1979 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Zoology LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 1979 T1 - ETD: The contribution by phytoplankton, bacteria and detritus to a rocky shore ecosystem TI - ETD: The contribution by phytoplankton, bacteria and detritus to a rocky shore ecosystem UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39000 ER -en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/39000
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationCliff G. The contribution by phytoplankton, bacteria and detritus to a rocky shore ecosystem. []. ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1979 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39000en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.subjectZoology
dc.titleThe contribution by phytoplankton, bacteria and detritus to a rocky shore ecosystem
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMSc
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