The "soft shore" ecosystems, Sandy shores and mudflats and Physical gradients

Question 1

Q50

Answer 1

This is the point where 50% of the sediment is reached
Median grain size
You can use this value to compare grain size within or between beaches

Question 2

What does Particle Heterogeneity determine?

Answer 2

The amount of water, oxygen and habitat available

Question 3

Sorting value

Answer 3

This is your Q25/Q75 value
This shows you how well sorted the grain size is
Closer to 1 is more sorted

Question 4

Porosity determinants

Answer 4

Larger sediment sizes are more porous and more permeable than smaller sized sediments

The more sorted the sediment is the more porous it is as well

Question 5

What is RPD

Answer 5

This is the REDOX potential discontinuity

Often called the gray layer, where it switches from being oxygen-rich to no oxygen

Question 6

Sandy shores vs Mudflats

Answer 6

Sandy shores: coarse sediments, relatively dry, poor diversity, high oxygen, low concentrations of organic matter

Mudflats: finer sediments, waterlogged, high diversity, high concentrations of organic matter, low oxygen

Question 7

Dissipative beaches

Answer 7

Gentle slope
Waves break before they hit the beach
Have finer, wetter sediments

Question 8

Reflective beaches

Answer 8

Steep slopes
Waves smack against the beach
Have coarser, drier sediments