3.4 SALT PANNES 



The salt pannes are upper intertidal areas 

 that are devoid of vegetation. They accumulate 

 winter rainfall and saline water from high 

 spring tides in December through February; 

 in summer, they are covered by a salt crust 

 that forms with evaporation of salt spray and 

 tidal water from high spring tides in May 

 through July. Soil salinities of 200 ppt are 



common at the end of the dry season. Two 

 contrasting communities can thus be found 

 (Figure 3.13). During the winter aquatic 

 phase, algae flourish and aquatic insects 

 become abundant. Ducks utilize the shallow 

 waters for feeding and resting. During the 

 summer dry season, the habitat appears 

 barren, because most of the resident insects 

 and other arthropods live in the soil. 



 





t, -J 



Figure 3.13. During winter (top) the salt pannes trap rainfall and tidal water; during summer 

 (below) they dry and are covered by a white salt crust. Algae and ditch grass (Ruppia maritima) 

 grow during the aquatic phase; pintails and other aquatic birds feed and rest there. In summer, 

 abundant burrows of a diverse insect community are visible. Mclntire collection, © by Zedler. 



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