Studland Bay Coastal Habitat Flashcards
What different habitats are there?
Sandy beaches
The sea
The sand dunes
The heathland
What is the draw to Studland bay?
Beautiful sandy beaches, as well as it being a nature reserve and site of special scientific interest.
What reptiles live at Studland bay? How are they adapted to live in their environment?
Adders, Grass Snakes, Sand Lizards and Slow Worms
Their thick scaly skin reduces water loss from their bodies and protects them from rough undergrowth on the heathland
What birds live here? How is one specific bird adapted for its environment?
Dartford Warblers (very rare in Britain), Shelducks and Grebes.
Grebes are adapted to dive underwater to find food in the sea. Their feet are far back on their bodies to help them dive ( it makes them streamlined)
What special fish live here?
The rare Spiny Seahorse
Studland bay is the sea horses only uk breeding ground
What plants live here?
How are they adapted to the environment?
Marram grass and Lyme grass on the sand dunes and heather on the heathland.
Marram grass has folded leaves to reduce water loss as sand dunes are dry and windy so transpiration rates are high. It also has long roots to take up water and stabilise itself in the sand.
Lyme grass has waxy leaves to reduce water loss by transpiration.
How does the national trust try to solve the problem of sand dune erosion due to visitors?
1) boardwalks guide people over the dunes
2) signs explain to visitors why maintaining the sand dunes is important
3) areas are fenced off and Marram grass is planted to recover and stabilise damaged areas
How does the boats of Studland bay affect the spiny sea horses? What are the national trust doing to help?
Hundreds of boats use Studland bay and the anchors are damaging the sea grass where spiny sea horses live.
These rare sea horses are protected by law so boat owners are warned not to damage the area
How do people damage the heathland?
Cigarettes or barbecues can set fire to the heathland.
Visitors are educated about this risk and firebeaters are provided to try to minimise the risk of the heathland setting alight.
Where is Studland bay?
Dorset
