mudflat and salt marsh formation Flashcards
where are mudflat forms
sheletered shoreline
areas of high sediment
has LSD and Large tidal range
what are they composed of
silt and clay
where do they usually form and why
where river meets sea and each sources bring lots of sediment
what happens when the two flows meet
sediment particles combine get heavy and sink to bed
floculation
what happens to bed over time
sediment builds up so much that its visible at low tide but underwater at high tide
what sort of pioneer species like to grow
halophytic plants
example of halophytic plants
spartina
what does vegetaion do
further captures more sediment and stabalises mud flat
what happens when mud flat builds up enough
plant succesion occurs to create saltmarsh
what can saltmarshes do
dissipate wave energy
what do storm surges cause slatmarshes to do
migrate
benefits of saltmarshes
4 things
protein rich land
safe conditions for boats
increase biodiversity
increase tourism
threats to marsh
5 things
sea level rise -isostatic change sea walls dont allow marshes to migrate erosion of marshes releases lots of pollutants land reclaimation dredging
example of slatmarsh
abbotts hall farm
what did wildlife trust do to create saltmarshes
destroyed sea wallas to allow salt marshes to form and migrate
