L2 Coastal Environments

Question 1

Describe the ecology , environmental variables and community of Estuaries

Answer 1

Ecology: mudflats
Environmental variables : salinity, sediment , dissolved oxygen and temperature
Community: marine (stenohaline and euhaline) freshwater, transitional and migratory species

Question 2

Describe the environmental variables, zonation and community of a salt marsh

Answer 2

Variables: salinity- transitional zone desiccation- water level fluctuations and nutrients
Zonation: dike/dune, high marsh, low marsh, pioneer zone and intertidal mudflat
Community: birds, foxes, invertebrates reeds, otters and clams

Question 3

Describe the ecology and purpose of sea grass beds

Answer 3

Soft sediment, shallow high energy environments that can increase the organic content and change the particle size distribution. Sea grass beds are tolerant to wide salinity ranges
Sea grass beds serve as nurseries, food and protection to species such as otters, clams, juvenile fish

Question 4

Describe the ecology, types and organisms of mangroves

Answer 4

Mangroves are tropical, woody habitats with waterlogged sediment and aerial rooted flora.
Types: riverine mangroves, tide-dominated (fringing) mangroves and basin mangroves
Organisms such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, filter feeders, detrivores, herbivores, scavengers (whelks) and predators (fish and birds)

Question 5

Describe corals, how they occur and the types of reefs

Answer 5

A coral is a living animal with a CaCO3 Skeleton which may live symbiotically with zooxanthallae
They can occur in single polyps of colonies of single or multiple species
Types: fringing, barrier and atoli reefs