TY - JOUR AB - 1. This is the first ecological survey of a sheltered South African bay that has been published. The physical conditions of the environment are described and the distribution of the common species is given in relation to substratum type and tidal level. A list showing the present distribution and comparative abundance of all species identified from Durban Bay is given in the appendix.
2. The fishes are dealt with in some detail. The distribution, feeding habits, size at maturity and an estimate of the breeding season of the more important species is given.
3. There have been many reports that the fauna and particularly the fish and penacid prawn population has declined over the years; an attempt is made in this paper to assess the effects of harbour development, pollution, oiling, poaching and bait gathering.
4. Finally the ecology of this sheltered bay is compared with that of neighbouring surf-beaten shores and estuaries in order to bring out the important characteristics of all three environments.
5. The work has taken a party of biologists over two years to complete; it has been financed by the Natal Provincial Council and the South African Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
A1 - Day, John H. A1 - Morgans, J.F.C. JO - Annals of the Natal Museum N1 - (30.viii.1956). Digitisation was online at journal but is currently (2017) absent
Ant'Phipoda Literature database C1 - 13(3): 259-312, plate IV TI - The Ecology of South African estuaries. Part 7. The Biology of Durban Bay. UR - https://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=6233 PY - 1956 Y2 - 2024-03-29 ER -