landscapes associated with estuarine mudflats and salt marsh environments Flashcards
where do mudflats develop
on sheltered shorelines that are not exposed to powerful waves often located in estuaries
are mudflats likely to be submerged by high tides
yes, they are low lying areas that are submerged at high tide
what is the process of FLOCCULATION
the river and sea both have large amounts of fine sediment and when the two meet the individual clay and silt particles aggregate together to for larger and heavier particles that sink to the bed.
what happens to mudflats at low tide
the inter-tidal area of mud is left exposed with water only left in permenant channels.
are mudflats a permenant feature
no, they are susptible to changes in sea level, wave action or changes in discharge levels in the river.
example of a mudflat
morecambe bay , northwest england largest in the country.
what can happen to mudflats over time
develop into salt marshes
what is the vegetation succession that develops known as.
halosere (tolerant to salty conditions)
describe the stages of the halosere
low-lying vegetation such as eelgrass may begin to grow on mudflats
slows the current of the river and leads to uneven depostion
pioneers begin to colonise the area (halophytes) , are able to tolerate salt and periodic submergence e.g. glasswort and spartina- trap more mud than any pioneers.
pioneers gradually develop close vegetation over the mud and this allows other plants to grow such as sea aster and marsh grass
leads to more mud and silt accumulation
as land rises above sea level rushes and reeds become established
eventually leading to the growth of trees such as ash and then oak to complete succession.
