COASTS DISTINCT ECOSYSTEMS Flashcards
coral reef distribution
Found between 30oN and S of the equator in the tropics.
coral reef factors
light
temp
slainity
depth
moderate wave action
clean water
what depth for coral reef
les than 25m for light
temp for coral reef
18+
23-25 optimal
features of coral reef
covers 1% of surface but 25% of marine biodivversityt
polyps w algae
wahat % of seabed is coasts
1% but 25% of biod=iversity
what is coral
coral polyps (animals) w algae
biotic factors of a reef
Great Barrier Reef
Coral
Algae
Fish
Sharks
Turtles
Plankton
abitioc factors of reef
Great Barrier Reef
Temperature
Water flow
Salinity level
pH of seawater
Light level
Nutrient availability
threats to reefs
industrialisation
tourism
agrivculture and deforestation
toursim reefs
accidental trample, very sensitive easilly damages
industira; - reefs
water pollution
temp rise - sea rise and bleaching
agriculture and deforestatiopn - reefs
soil insstability cuz of no plant
leaching
mangrove distribution
32oN – 32oS of the equator
Sheltered, intertidal areas, that receive high annual rainfall.
mangrove limiting factors
temp
sedimetn tupe
wave action
salinity
salinity of mangroves
saline
temp for mangroves
coldest month avg higher than 20c
sediment type mangroves
fine grain
wave action mangroves
weak
features mangroves
traps silt to make new land
timber
storm protection
threats to mangroves
Timber for fuel and building material
Aquaculture
Land reclamation for tourist hotels and other amenities
Diversion of fresh water
Farming requires application of herbicides to prepare for cultivation
mangroves tide relation
regularly flooded
intertidal zone
roots with filters for salt
sand dune diustribution
Form worldwide at the interface between land and sea
sand dune limiting factors
beach width
onshore wind
obstacles
sand dune width
needs to be wide
features of sand dunes
Plant succession on the dunes is called a psammosere succession.
Embryo dunes, foredunes, yellow dunes, grey/mature dune is the sequence for dune formation from youngest to oldest. Dune slacks form in between dune crests.
Mature dunes contain more humus (organic matter) than embryo dunes and they have a more acidic pH due to the absence of seashells.
threats to sand dunes
Recreation e.g. trail biking and horse riding; Golf courses and caravan sites
salt marsh distibution
In intertidal zones, separating permanently flooded mudflats and dry, inland, areas above the high tide mark.
Usually in sheltered areas of coastline such as estuaries or bays, and usually behind spits
salt marsh featureas
Either adapted to saltwater (if in bays) or brackish water (if in estuaries).
Mudflats are colonised by vegetation over time, until the most stable climax community vegetation of carr woodland is achieved at the back of a salt marsh (this is permanently waterlogged)
threats to salt marshes
Reclamation to create farmland and sites for industrial and port developments
Industrial pollution from ports, power stations and oil refineries;
Agricultural pollution from fertilisers and pesticides
Pressures from developments such as marinas and other recreational facilities
salt marsh order
mudflats lower marsh upper marsh carr woodland
MLUC
most lubed up cock
mudflat plants
eelgraass
salt marsh tides
regularly floodecd
brackish
low energy ewaves
lower marsh plant
sea manna grass
upper marsh
sea couch grass
carr plant
ash
embtryyo dune plant
sea couch grass
yellow dune plant
marram grass
grey dune pllant
heather
climax
oak
coastal stakeholders
The coastal system
Conflicts between different coastal users:
Users of the coast are called stakeholders.
Different stakeholders may agree or disagree about a particular issue.
Most debate surrounds whether the coastline should be conserved or developed.
Different stakeholders include:
Local residents
Farmers
Employers
Fishermen
Port authorities
Transport companies (roads and terminals: ports and airports)
Tourists
Developers
Environment Agency
causes of flooding
Storm surges – either due to an extreme high tide and low-pressure system with an onshore wind, or due to a hurricane.
Tsunamis – as a result of an undersea earthquake
Climate change – isostatic readjustment, eustatic change, and thermal expansion
prediction of flooding
Achieved via assessing historical records or good levels of forecasting
Flood prevention
Flood defences
Building emergency centres
Advance warning systems
Building design
Planning new developments
Education.
coast management stratergies
Hold the line
Advance the line
Managed retreat
Do nothing
coast defences
Hard engineering (groynes, revetments, sea walls, gabions, rip rap)
Soft engineering (beach replenishment, cliff regrading, ecosystem rehabilitation and revegetation, managed retreat)
coral reef values
toursim
biodiversity
food
protection
waste treatment
materials
mangrove values
nurseries
wood
protectionnew land
filter
groyne
sticky out bit that cathces sand
groyne positives
cheapish
wider beaches
slows eroisin
groyne negatives
maintanence
ugly and inconvenient
rip rap
pile o rocks
rip rap positives
cheap
works
rip rap negative
boulders come loose and its heavy
gabions
rock cages
gabion positives
cheap
works
gabion negatives
rust andf breaks
less effective
revetemetns
slanted wall of rocks or wood
revetement positive
works
revetement negative
useless vs stroms
hard to access
maintanence
ugly
sea wall positivew
effective
sea wall negative
expensive and ugly and inaccessiblke
beach replenishmetn
redoes iur but needs sand from elsewhere and frequentlt
vegetation
work w natural vegetation
cliff regrading
angle og cliff changed to reduce mass movemetn - doesnt fully stop
