estuarine mudflats/saltmarsh environments Flashcards
1
Q
What is an estuary
A
-large river meets the sea - freshwater meets saltwater -> brackish water
2
Q
What are mudflats
A
-layers/areas where slits/ clays are deposited - submerged and exposed with tides
3
Q
Where are they found
A
-estuaries
4
Q
How do they develop
A
- Accretion of silt and clay to be deposited (LEC) - clay has negative charge saltwater is neutral - flocculation
- pioneer plants colonize translation zone
- mud level rises w/ more tides
5
Q
What is flocculation
A
- brackish water neutralizes the negatively charged clay
- clay joins together
6
Q
What types of environments are needed for saltmarshes
A
- sheltered area where deposition occurs
- where salt and freshwater meet - estuaries
- where there are no strong tides or currents to prevent sediment deposition and accumulation
7
Q
What is the first stage of salt marsh formation
A
- to begin with, mud is deposited close to the high-tide line through flocculation
- The combined clay particles stick together and sink to the seabed
8
Q
What is the second stage of salt marsh formation
A
- Pioneer plants such as EELGRASS and CORDGRASS start to colonize the transition zone between high and low tide lines
- They are halophytes - salt-tolerant - they also trap silt
9
Q
What is the third stage of salt marsh formation
A
- The mud level rises above the high tide and a lower saltmarsh develops with a wider range of plants that no longer need to be adapted to salty conditions
- sea manna grass
10
Q
What is the fourth stage of salt marsh formation
A
- The soil conditions improve and the vegetation succession continues to form a meadow
- sea meadow grass
11
Q
What is the fifth stage of salt marsh formation
A
- Eventually, shrubs and trees will colonize the area as the succession reaches the climatic climax
- creeks form at low tides by the water and divides up the saltmarsh
- ash and alder trees
