An integrated study of the Mpenjati estuary-beach system. (Biological component)
Abstract
A study was carried out to find the abundances of animal organisms between both sides of the Mpenjati estuary. Zooplankton, Macro fauna, Meiofauna and Fish was sampled .Each of the species that reside in the estuary contribute to the diversity of the area and are essentially driving forces, ensuring optimal functioning of the ecosystem. The purpose of sampling such ecosystems is to find out how the interactions amongst these organisms show a relation towards environmental conditions and how they could be affecting the estuary in the abundances that they are found. Samples was collected at different sampling stations were it was collected and
At the biology laboratory the sample biomass was filtered through a GF/F filter to remove the formalin, all extra mass that retained in the polyethylene jar was washed out with distilled water. The collected biomass was then evenly split and placed into three counting trays were it was then analysed under a dissecting microscope. Organisms was identified and tallied using a booklet An Introduction to the zooplankton of the Benguela current region by Mark J. Gibbons. The abundances were then calculated using the following equation: Individuals.m-3 = total number of individualsvolume filtered

Meiofauna
The meiofauna samples were collected along the beach side. A sediment corer was plunged a few centre metres deep into the sediment, 1cm of the core was removed and placed into a 30ml plastic vial. Added to core was 15ml of filtered estuarine water along with 0.6 ml phloxine stained 4% formalin to ensure proper preservation. Three samples were taken and the total area sampled was 0.000314m2 respectively. At the laboratory the core was then washed out with distilled water to remove the formalin. It was then transferred to Petri dishes and was analysed under a dissecting microscope. Organisms found were identified and counted in the same way as the zooplankton samples. The abundances were then calculated using the equation and relationship: Individuals m-2= average (sample 1+2+3)3area of thr corer = xm2
Macrofauna
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