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The influence of nutrients on surf-zone phytoplankton

The variability in surf-zone phytoplankton community composition together with variability in nutrient concentrations was studied at seven beaches along the coast near Port Elizabeth, South Africa over a one-year sampling period. The nutrient requirements of selected diatoms and dinoflagellates that co-occur at these beaches were studied. The highest nutrient concentrations were recorded at Brighton beach, with phosphate concentration being substantially higher than standards set out for both South African and European waters. Nitrate, ammonium and silicate concentrations were consistent (low variability) at all beaches. The species composition of beaches without surf diatoms was also not variable (except for King’s Beach – an artificial beach). Maitland beach was the only beach that could be identified as a surf diatom beach due to the presence of Anaulus australis. The surf diatom Anaulus australis was found to be a superior competitor compared to all other species tested: the other surf diatom Asterionellopsis glacialis, and the dinoflagellates Gonyaulax spinifera, Prorocentrum micans, and Scrippsiella trochoidea. Gonyaulax spinifera could possibly outcompete Anaulus australis in systems should nitrate become limiting.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nmmu/vital:10608
Date January 2012
CreatorsWolmarans, Karien
PublisherNelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Faculty of Science
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis, Masters, MSc
Formatxvi, 122 leaves, pdf
RightsNelson Mandela Metropolitan University

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