Body condition of larval roundherring, Gilchristella aestuaria (family Clupeidae), in relation to harmful algal blooms in a warm-temperate estuary.

Eutrophication-driven harmful algal blooms (HABs) can have secondary effects on larval fishes that rely on estuaries as nurseries. However, few studies worldwide have quantified these effects despite the global rise in eutrophication. This study presents a novel approach using biochemical body condition analyses to evaluate the impact of HABs on the growth and body condition of the larvae of an estuarine resident fish. Recurrent phytoplankton blooms of Heterosigma akashiwo occur in the warm-temperate Sundays Estuary on the southeast coast of South Africa. The response in body condition and assemblage structure on larval estuarine roundherring (Gilchristella aestuaria) was measured in conjunction with bloom conditions, water quality and zooplanktonic prey and predators. Larvae and early juveniles were sampled during varying intensity levels, duration and frequency of hypereutrophic blooms. This study demonstrated that extensive HABs could significantly impact larval roundherring, G. aestuaria, by decreasing larval nutritional condition and limiting their growth, resulting in poor grow-out into the juvenile phase. Poor condition and growth may likely affect recruitment success to adult populations, and since G. aestuaria is an important forage fish and zooplanktivore, poor recruitment will hold consequences for estuarine food webs.

Inorganic nutrient removal efficiency of a constructed wetland before discharging into an urban eutrophic estuary.

This study investigated the nutrient removal efficiency of a constructed wetland (CW) piloted to treat urban runoff before entering an estuary. Physico-chemical, dissolved inorganic nutrient (DIN and DIP), and stormwater inflow volume data were measured. The CW removal efficiency of DIN was negligible (5% uptake), while it acted as a consistent source of DIP (68% efflux) to the receiving estuarine waters. There was low water residency within the small CW (0.8 ha) that has been compounded by a 10-fold increase in flow volume since 2016. The surface area of the CW would need to be increased to 46 ha to cope with current daily inputs (ca. 6300 m3 d-1). The lack of maintenance (e.g., macrophyte harvesting, sediment desludging) has reduced nutrient uptake and increased autochthonous inputs. The conversion of an abandoned saltpan into an extension of the CW has been considered to manage the high flow volume and remove nutrients.

Flow regime and nutrient input control invasive alien aquatic plant distribution and species composition in small closed estuaries.

Nutrient pollution is facilitating the encroachment of invasive aquatic plants in various water bodies globally. This study investigated seasonal aquatic macrophyte responses in two temporarily closed estuaries with different nutrient inputs. Consistent effluent discharge from the upstream wastewater treatment works (WWTW) facilitated the establishment of numerous freshwater invasive alien aquatic plants (IAAPs) in the uThongathi Estuary. IAAPs (Myriophyllum aquaticum, Pistia stratiotes and Pontederia crassipes) were only displaced from the estuary after high flow events (>5 m3 s-1). In the less polluted uMdlotane Estuary nutrient pulses (>1 mg/L DIN) associated with high rainfall changed the aquatic macrophyte composition. The nutrient tolerant non-rooted Ceratophyllum demersum outcompeted the rooted submerged macrophyte Stuckenia pectinata. Species composition changed in response to flow and nutrient inputs, with the exception of emergent macrophytes, such as the grass Echinochloa pyramidalis, that remained consistent in cover and distribution in the uMdlotane Estuary. This study demonstrated that aquatic macrophytes are more responsive to nutrient inputs in unimpacted estuaries compared to consistently nutrient-rich systems where flow is an important driver of IAAPs community dynamics. Many temporarily closed estuaries are subjected to nutrient pollution from WWTWs and restoration efforts such as diversion of discharges to constructed wetlands needs urgent implementation.

Harmful algal blooms of Heterosigma akashiwo and environmental features regulate Mesodinium cf. rubrum abundance in eutrophic conditions.

Functional drivers of phytoplankton that can potentially form harmful algal blooms (HABs) are important to understand given the increased prevalence of anthropogenic modification and pressure on coastal habitats. However, teasing these drivers apart from other influences is problematic in natural systems, while laboratory assessments often fail to replicate relevant natural conditions. One such potential bloom-forming species complex highlighted globally is Mesodinium cf. rubrum, a planktonic ciliate. This species occurs persistently in the Sundays Estuary in South Africa yet has never been observed to "bloom" (> 1,000 cell.ml-1). Modified by artificial nutrient-rich baseflow conditions, the Sundays Estuary provides a unique Southern Hemisphere case study to identify the autecological drivers of this ciliate due to artificial seasonally "controlled" abiotic environmental conditions. This study utilised a three-year monitoring dataset (899 samples) to assess the drivers of M. cf. rubrum using a generalised modelling approach. Key abiotic variables that influenced population abundance were season and salinity, with M. cf. rubrum populations peaking in summer and spring and preferring polyhaline salinity regions (>18) with pronounced water column salinity stratification, especially in warmer months. This was reflected in the diel vertical migration (DVM) behaviour of this species, demonstrating its ability to utilise the optimal daylight photosynthetic surface conditions and high-nutrient bottom waters at night. The only phytoplankton groups clearly associated with M. cf. rubrum were Raphidophyceae and Cryptophyceae. Although M. cf. rubrum reflects a niche overlap with the dominant HAB-forming phytoplankton in the estuary (the raphidophyte, Heterosigma akashiwo), its reduced competitive abilities restrict its abundance. In contrast, the mixotrophic foraging behaviour of M. cf. rubrum exerts a top-down control on cryptophyte prey abundance, yet, the limited availability of these prey resources (mean < 300 cells ml-1) seemingly inhibits the formation of red-water accumulations. Hydrodynamic variability is necessary to ensure that no single phytoplankton HAB-forming taxa outcompetes the rest. These results confirm aspects of the autecology of M. cf. rubrum related to salinity associations and DVM behaviour and contribute to a global understanding of managing HABs in estuaries.

Cross-continental analysis of coastal biodiversity change.

Whereas the anthropogenic impact on marine biodiversity is undebated, the quantification and prediction of this change are not trivial. Simple traditional measures of biodiversity (e.g. richness, diversity indices) do not capture the magnitude and direction of changes in species or functional composition. In this paper, we apply recently developed methods for measuring biodiversity turnover to time-series data of four broad taxonomic groups from two coastal regions: the southern North Sea (Germany) and the South African coast. Both areas share geomorphological features and ecosystem types, allowing for a critical assessment of the most informative metrics of biodiversity change across organism groups. We found little evidence for directional trends in univariate metrics of diversity for either the effective number of taxa or the amount of richness change. However, turnover in composition was high (on average nearly 30% of identities when addressing presence or absence of species) and even higher when taking the relative dominance of species into account. This turnover accumulated over time at similar rates across regions and organism groups. We conclude that biodiversity metrics responsive to turnover provide a more accurate reflection of community change relative to conventional metrics (absolute richness or relative abundance) and are spatially broadly applicable. This article is part of the theme issue 'Integrative research perspectives on marine conservation'.

Phytoplankton responses to adaptive management interventions in eutrophic urban estuaries.

Upstream anthropogenic perturbations can dramatically affect estuarine water quality, especially in small systems where water retention times are high. Management of these modified ecosystems often requires direct interventions to prevent detrimental long-term effects. The heavily urbanized and temporarily closed Zandvlei Estuary in South Africa has a long history of anthropogenic manipulation, and therefore acts as an ideal case-study to gauge reactive management practices. Continued deterioration of estuarine water quality and ecological functioning prompted the adoption of an adaptive management approach. Subsequent management interventions to increase salinity variability and nutrient removal included the (1) adoption of a mouth management plan, (2) regular harvesting of submerged vegetation, and (3) removal of flow obstructions. Physico-chemical and nutrient monitoring data (2010-2018) were assessed to document the response of phytoplankton to these interventions. Time-series analysis indicated an upward trend in salinity throughout the estuary. This corresponded with a temporal decline in phytoplankton biomass levels and was supported by model results that highlighted a strongly inverse relationship with salinity. The frequency of high-biomass events (>80 µg Chl-a l-1) also declined in each of the designated estuarine zones. In April 2012, an extensive harmful algal bloom (HAB) of Prymnesium parvum (Prymnesiophyceae) was recorded (~530 µg Chl-a l-1) in the estuary, culminating in hypoxic conditions (O2 < 2 mg l-1) and fish kills. However, the subsequent mechanical breaching of the mouth has prevented reoccurrences of P. parvum. Similarly, more saline conditions arising from increased marine connectivity reduced the abundance of the previously dominant Bacillariophyceae and Chlorophyceae classes. The overall improvement in water quality validates the efficacy of management interventions aimed at restoring and conserving ecosystem functionality. Yet, these efforts are a deviation from natural estuarine functioning and thus a 'catchment to coast' approach that incorporates upstream nutrient mitigation measures is needed to achieve sustainable long-term management objectives.

Comparative assessment of two agriculturally-influenced estuaries: Similar pressure, different response.

This study compared the spatio-temporal dynamics in two agriculturally-influenced South African estuaries - Gamtoos and Sundays - to investigate how contrasting hydrological alterations influence physical, chemical and biological responses. With the Gamtoos Estuary experiencing regular high flow conditions, a key difference between the two systems is the propensity for natural flushing events to occur; a mechanism largely eliminated from the highly-regulated Sundays Catchment. Phytoplankton blooms (>20Chl-aµgl-1) were persistent and seasonal in the Sundays, inducing summer bottom-water hypoxia (<2mgl-1), whilst those in the Gamtoos were episodic and flow-dependent. Of concern in the Sundays Estuary, was the magnitude (>550µgl-1) and recurrent nature of two harmful algal bloom (HAB) species. This study provides the first account of HAB persistence and seasonal hypoxia in a South African estuary, demonstrating the possible consequences of shifting an ecosystem into a new stable state.