Changing land use / land cover around an urban estuary : implications for ecosystem functioning

dc.contributor.advisorHoffmann, Timmen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorJack, Samen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-08-23T13:09:36Z
dc.date.available2017-08-23T13:09:36Z
dc.date.issued2006en_ZA
dc.date.updated2017-02-08T13:23:12Z
dc.description.abstractThe changing spatial and temporal patterns in land use/land cover surrounding Zandvlei estuary were investigated over the period 1944 to 2005. Changes in the extent of four terrestrial and two aquatic land use/land cover categories were mapped from high quality aerial photographs using ArcView GIS. Basic spatial analyses were performed to quantify changes in area, 'edge-effects' and relative dominance through time. Semi-natural and seasonally inundated classes accounted for over 70% of land cover in 1944, but declined steadily as urban land use and permanently inundated land cover expanded to a present-day extent of 42% and 19% respectively. The following major drivers of change were identified: 1) the construction of the railway embankment bisecting Westlake wetland and Zandvlei estuary, which led to sedimentation and a change in plant species composition of the wetland, but decreased nutrient inflows into the vlei; 2) agricultural practices within the catchment at the start of the 20th century which increased sediment and nutrient inflows; 3) elevated water levels due to dredging operations between 1947 and 1961, which resulted in a significant loss of seasonally inundated land cover with concomitant changes in species composition and nutrient dynamics; and 4) urban development surrounding the vlei (with particular reference to Marina da Gama), which has expanded at the expense of semi-natural areas and significantly increased effluent and litter inputs into the vlei. A socially and ecologically balanced management policy governing the entire catchment is required to mitigate future impacts.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationJack, S. (2006). <i>Changing land use / land cover around an urban estuary : implications for ecosystem functioning</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24958en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationJack, Sam. <i>"Changing land use / land cover around an urban estuary : implications for ecosystem functioning."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24958en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationJack, S. 2006. Changing land use / land cover around an urban estuary : implications for ecosystem functioning. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Jack, Sam AB - The changing spatial and temporal patterns in land use/land cover surrounding Zandvlei estuary were investigated over the period 1944 to 2005. Changes in the extent of four terrestrial and two aquatic land use/land cover categories were mapped from high quality aerial photographs using ArcView GIS. Basic spatial analyses were performed to quantify changes in area, 'edge-effects' and relative dominance through time. Semi-natural and seasonally inundated classes accounted for over 70% of land cover in 1944, but declined steadily as urban land use and permanently inundated land cover expanded to a present-day extent of 42% and 19% respectively. The following major drivers of change were identified: 1) the construction of the railway embankment bisecting Westlake wetland and Zandvlei estuary, which led to sedimentation and a change in plant species composition of the wetland, but decreased nutrient inflows into the vlei; 2) agricultural practices within the catchment at the start of the 20th century which increased sediment and nutrient inflows; 3) elevated water levels due to dredging operations between 1947 and 1961, which resulted in a significant loss of seasonally inundated land cover with concomitant changes in species composition and nutrient dynamics; and 4) urban development surrounding the vlei (with particular reference to Marina da Gama), which has expanded at the expense of semi-natural areas and significantly increased effluent and litter inputs into the vlei. A socially and ecologically balanced management policy governing the entire catchment is required to mitigate future impacts. DA - 2006 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2006 T1 - Changing land use / land cover around an urban estuary : implications for ecosystem functioning TI - Changing land use / land cover around an urban estuary : implications for ecosystem functioning UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24958 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/24958
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationJack S. Changing land use / land cover around an urban estuary : implications for ecosystem functioning. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2006 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24958en_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.subject.otherEcological Conservationen_ZA
dc.titleChanging land use / land cover around an urban estuary : implications for ecosystem functioningen_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBSc (Hons)en_ZA
uct.type.filetype
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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