Athi N. Mfikile

MSc student After my internship with the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) (Elwandle Coastal Node) as a GIS intern, I have become interested and passionate about studying estuarine ecology and salt marshes in particular. Although I do not have a background in estuarine plants, I have enjoyed monitoring their distribution using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Hence, I am interested in understanding environmental drivers responsible for the development and distribution of salt marshes, particularly sedimentological and hydrological processes.

Interests: After my 18 months long internship with the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) (Elwandle Coastal Node) as a GIS intern, I have become interested and passionate about studying estuarine ecology and salt marshes in particular. Although I do not have a background in estuarine plants, I have enjoyed monitoring their distribution using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Hence, I am interested in understanding environmental drivers responsible for the development and distribution of salt marshes, particularly sedimentological and hydrological processes.

Degree: MSc

Supervisors: Dr Thomas Bornman (SAEON Elwandle Node and NMMU Research Associate) and Prof Daniel Mikeš (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Department of Geosciences)

First registered for degree: April 2014

Registered at: Department of Botany and Department of Geosciences, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Expected completion: December 2015

Thesis/project title: Influence of sedimentological and hydrological processes on the distribution of salt marsh in the Keurbooms Estuary, Western Cape.

Short abstract: Salt marshes are the most productive ecosystems, second after tropical rain forests in biodiversity and biological productivity, yet their survival is threaten by global sea-level rise and anthropogenic activities. Their development and distribution has been closely linked to several environmental conditions such as climate, tidal exchange, freshwater inflow, pedological conditions, nutrient concentration, water column salinity and temperature, groundwater, elevation, sedimentation, sediment moisture and sediment organic content. The Keurbooms Estuary lacks well developed intertidal areas and as a result the salt marshes are not extensive. Although the sedimentary environment of the Keurbooms Estuary has drawn the attention over the past decades, sediment dynamics of the entire estuary and their influence on the ecosystem of the estuary, particularly salt marshes, are poorly understood. Therefore, this study’s focus is to understand the sediment dynamics of the Keurbooms Estuary and how it influences the development and distribution of salt marshes in the estuary. Precise measurements of sediment vertical accretion, short-term sedimentation, soil elevation change and shallow subsidence will be made using a Rod Sediment Elevation Table constructed at several sites on the intertidal salt marsh according to the specifications published by Cahoon et al. (2002). The RSET data will determine whether the system receives enough sediment input, both from the sea and river, and whether salt marshes will keep pace with predicted sea-level rise. Vegetation cover abundance, species diversity and sediment characteristics will be investigated using permanent transects. Vegetation distribution will be complemented by GIS mapping of historical and recent aerial images to determine how the salt marsh distribution has changed overtime.

Status: Literature review, research design and data collection

Umbrella programme: Long Term Ecological Research of estuarine sediment elevation

Running cost funds: SAEON Elwandle Node

Bursary: Africa Earth Observatory Network (AEON) and SAEON Elwandle Coastal Node

Email: athimfikili@gmail.com