Evaluating the effects of freshwater inflow on the distribution of estuarine macrophytes

A mathematical model is used to analyse the role of freshwater inflow on spatial patterns and biomass of estuarine macrophytes. A cellular automaton is used, where the updating rules are deterministic. Environmental heterogeneity is defined by salinity, water level fluctuations and freshwater inflow rates. The model is used to project the impact of freshwater release patterns on the distribution of macrophytes in two South African estuaries. Preliminary work on the development of a non-spatial model demonstrated the necessity of introducing a spatial component in the model.