A botanical importance rating system for estuaries |
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Authors: | Coetzee J C Adams J B and Bate G C |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Botany, Institute of Coastal Research, University of Port Elizabeth, P. O. Box 1600, 6000 Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
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Abstract: | In many semi-arid areas, estuaries are threatened because of freshwater impoundment. Estuaries are important sites for ecological
diversity and, increasingly, for recreation. A system has been developed which rates estuaries according to their botanical
importance. A formula allows a single numerical importance score to be calculated. The area cover of each estuarine plant
community type (i.e. intertidal salt marsh, submerged macrophytes, reed/sedge swamps and supratidal salt marsh) and its importance
in the estuary forms the basis of the score. The ‘ecological condition’ of the plant community and the community richness
within the estuary are incorporated into the formula. The formula is effective in determining the botanical importance of
estuaries. Further methods to determine the zoological, physical and socio-economic importance of estuaries need to be developed
to allow the overall importance of estuaries to be determined. |
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Keywords: | Evaluation Plant community type South Africa |
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