The mineral contents and some of the primary consumers of a temporary pan along the west coast of southern Africa are reported on. Tendential evidence suggests a change in composition and abundance of the entomostraca which could probably be related to floristic changes caused by the accumulation of salts.
Certain aspects of the biotic components of a seasonal water, subect to large seasonal fluctuations in physical and chemical features, were investigated . Phytoplankton development and succession were largely dependent on water-depth and turbidity . Observed increases in marginal hydrophyte stands and suspended solid loads of the water were related to eutrophication . The succession of primary consumers was related to food resources and habitat requirements . Factors which influenced the functioning of the aquatic ecosystem were identified as water-depth, turbidity, orthophosphates, chlorides, conductivity and total dissolved solids .
The invertebrate fauna was sampled at seven localities in the main stream of the Berg River in 1974. These results are discussed and compared with those of Harrison and Elsworth (1958).The results obtained were also used in applying the Empirical Biotic Index of Chutter (1972) to evaluate the water quality.
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