HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIBUTION OF MACROBENTHIC FAUNA IN SALDANHA BAY

Abstract

The most recent trends in the economic development of Saldanha Bay are towards the tourist and mariculture industries, both of which are dependent on a high quality of water. Yet this water quality is now under threat. In this study, the extent of human induced changes to the characteristics of the water body are assessed in terms of their effects on the macrobenthic communities of the bay. Such effects are evaluated on the basis of changes in biomass, community structure and species composition using data from recent surveys as well as a limited quantity of historical data.