The KwaZulu-Natal Bight is influenced by various nutrient inputs from the Thukela River and particular oceanographic features of the shelf such as the St Lucia upwelling cell and the Durban lee eddy that are in turn associated with Agulhas Current behaviour. Little is known about KZN Bight community dynamics of most faunal groups and so knowledge about the ecological functioning of this system as a whole is lacking. To address this, a large multidisciplinary project on the Bight was conducted through the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme. One aim of the programme was to establish whether nutrient inputs have significant impacts on this oligotrophic shelf and if so, how? This study looked at the macrobenthic compartment to examine variations in diversity across the KZN Bight in the midshelf habitat only. Changes in diversity were explained in relation to important habitat and/or process drivers. Replicated biological and sediment samples were collected in and between the three focus areas of high nutrient input along the Bight spanning an area from Durban to just south of the St Lucia Estuary mouth. Samples were collected twice at the same stations, once during a wet period (February 2010) and once during a dry period (August 2010). These periods were selected to represent high and low outflow and thus potentially higher and lower nutrient inputs to the Bight, respectively. Macrobenthos collected by 0.2m2 Van Veen grab were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level and resulting data were analysed using combinations of univariate and multivariate statistical procedures. Diversity was described using well-published techniques that related to community Alpha () and Beta (β) diversity and including several newer methods such as Taxonomic Diversity indices (Taxonomic Distinctness (Δ*), Average Taxonomic Distinctness (Δ+), Variation in Taxonomic Distinctness (Λ+)) to determine the taxonomic relatedness of macrobenthic communities within the study area. Midshelf macrobenthic community  and β diversity was highly variable across the shelf with no distinct patterns related to focus area. Diversity values were however similar to values obtained in what are considered highly diverse tropical and high latitude shelves. Diversity was then related to hydrographic parameters measured on the Bight to understand the possible indirect or direct roles the Agulhas Current and Thukela River have in maintaining the macrobenthos. Findings were that diversity was only weakly related to measured environmental variables suggesting far more complex interactions in the biophysical environment of the Bight. This was highlighted by the finding that alpha and beta diversity measures had complimentary relationships as an inverse trend was found between these measures along the KZN Bight. Thus, more detailed systematic studies on the Bight are needed to fully understand the role and supply of nutrients on specific communities and how these pertain to the ecological function of the whole shelf ecosystem. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

The Natal Bight off the east coast of South Africa is a unique shelf habitat, exhibiting high secondary productivity and supporting high diversity. Ecosystem attributes are influenced by local oceanographic features and outwelling via one of the largest rivers in the country. This study forms part of a larger, multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary study under the second phase of the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP II) Natal Bight Project, investigating how material sources, posited to be derived from these features, shape the ecological structure and functioning of the region. Macrobenthic samples were collected along cross shelf transects off Richard’s Bay, Durban and the Thukela River mouth during two cruises, corresponding with periods of variable rainfall. Macrobenthic communities were classified taxonomically, to the lowest level possible, and functionally. Community patterns were investigated within and between feature areas and related to measurable environmental factors in order to determine environmental drivers and assess the importance of identified oceanographic features. Environmental parameters measured included sedimentary characteristics as well as physico-chemical conditions in the surrounding pelagic milieu. A total of 38 215 individuals belonging to 826 taxa were recorded from the three feature areas, of which the majority were Polychaeta and Crustacea. An in-depth investigation of the polychaete component has shown that this group can be used as a proxy for the whole macrobenthic community which has important implications for future studies. Facultative feeding modes dominated the trophic functioning macrobenthic communities sampled on the Natal Bight. Primary community metrics of abundance and numbers of macrobenthic taxa were reduced from the high to low rainfall period but differences were not significant, probably due to the lack of temporal repetition. The Thukela feature area was found to support the most abundant and taxon rich macrobenthic community. Mid-shelf stations sampled along the Thukela and Durban transects were in close proximity to the coarse paleo-dune cordon, running along the 60 m isobath and supported a diverse assemblage. Despite the lack of temporal repetition in the present study, there were significant short-term changes in the structure and functioning of macrobenthic communities on the Thukela shelf. This suggests that Thukela River outflow has a significant effect on the functioning of the Natal Bight ecosystem. This was surprising given the importance which has previously been placed on the Cape St. Lucia upwelling cell in terms of contributing nutrients and sustaining biological productivity and diversity on the Natal Bight. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.