4.2 MULTIPLE DRIVERS & STRESSES

Question 1

What is a low elevation zone? (LECZ)

Answer 1

Land < 10m

680mil people currently live in the low-lying coastal zone; 1 billion by 2050

Question 2

Infrastructure & resources in LECZ’S

Answer 2

• > 90% of global trade by sea
• 12% nuclear stations in LECZ
• 11% airports in LECZ
• 35% oil refineries in LECS
• 60m employed fisheries globally (17% of protein intake)
• 18 mil tonnes of marine aggregates extracted in UK annually
• > 200,000 jobs UK government target for new jobs in offshore wind by 2030

Question 3

COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS - Mangroves

Answer 3

Various types of SALT-TOLERANT plant species (trees or shrubs) that occur in INTERTIDAL ZONES of tropical & subtropical coastlines.

fish nurseries, carbon sinks, reduces tidal surges, terrestrial habitat, reduce height of wind and swell waves over rel short distances, can migrate landward & seaward with rise and fall, thick forests protect against storm surge

Question 4

COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS - Seagrasses

Answer 4

A group of FLOWERING PLANTS found in marine/estuarine waters; tend to develop EXTENSIVE UNDERWATER MEADOWS.

reducing energy of incoming waves
sequester carbon - about 10x more efficient than trees at doing it

Question 5

COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS - Saltmarshes & mudflats

Answer 5

Ecosystems of BRACKISH, SHALLOW WATER with SALT-TOLERANT PLANTS like herbs, grasses or shrubs.
Usually found in intertidal zones of SHELTERED marine & estuarine coastlines, in TEMPERATE & HIGH LATITUDES.

carbon sink, recycling nutrients, reducing flooding risk
important habitat for migrating birds
trapping of microplastics in saltmarshes

Question 6

COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS - Coral reefs

Answer 6

CARBONATE structure which is gradually built by stony corals, calcareous algae & other reef-building organisms.
Warm-water coral reefs occur in coastal areas of TROPICAL & SUBTROPICAL regions.

important for tourism
highly populated
important for incoming storms

Question 7

COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS - Kelp forests

Answer 7

A large algae seaweed which tends to occur in HIGH DENSITY FORESTS worldwide throughout TEMPERATE & POLAR coastal regions, & SOME TROPICAL waters.

mimics of kelp used for offshore wind turbines

Question 8

What are ecosystem services?

Answer 8

The ways humankind benefits from ecosystems.
4 categories:
- Provisioning - production of food, biomass, fuel & water
- Regulating - control of climate, natural hazards & disease
- Supporting - nutrient cycles, soil formation, photosynthesis, primary production; carbon sequestration
- Cultural - spiritual, aesthetic & recreational benefits, ecotourism, ethical values