Sediment Shores Flashcards
Types of sediment on sediment shores
High energy has coarse sediment
Moderate energy has siliceous sand
Low energy has mud/silt
What are sediment shores influenced by
Partial size
Wave action
Substratum movement
What is lithogenic and Biogenic sediment
Lithogenic is created from rocks
Biogenic is created from organisms
What important substratum features does wave action affect
Stability
Gradient
Drainage
Oxygenation
Organic content
How is stability impacted on high and low energy coasts
High energy, more wave movement. LESS STABLE as large particles sizes are thrown as they are unconsolidated and can cause damage to organisms
Low energy there is less wave movement therefore MORE STABLE as partials are smaller and more stuck together so don’t move around much
How is gradient impacted on a high and low energy coast
High energy STEEP GRADIENT as large particle sizes build up the beach in the high shore
Low energy have SHALLOW GRADIENT as less wave action to pick up sediment to build up the beach
How is drainage impacted on a high and low energy coast
HIGH DRAINAGE on high energy as the gradient is steep and the particles sizes are bigger so water can move in between the.
LOW DRAINAGE on low energy as shallow gradient and partial sizes are smaller, more stuck together therefore harder for water to move through
How is oxygenation affected on a high and low energy coast
HIGH LEVEL OF OXYGENATION on HIGH ENERGY shore as partial sizes are bigger that move around more so oxygen can infiltrate and steep gradient allows for more drainage so more water is passing through and it doesn’t get stagnant
LOW LEVEL OF OXYGENATION on LOW ENERGY shore as partial sizes are smaller and stuck together therefore less oxygen is able to penetrate as they particles don’t move around. Shallow gradient less drainages so less oxygenated water penetrates
How is organic matter affected on high and low energy coasts
LESS ORGANIC MATTER on HIGH ENERGY coasts as more wave crash and larger partial sizes make it less habitable so less organism present
MORE ORGANIC MATTER on LOW ENERGY coasts as more habitable therefore more organisms however more competition
What is the zonation on sediment shores
Zonation visual as on Rocky shores as everything is within the sediment therefore Zonation is both across the shore and Zonation with depth
Zonation with depths creates the REDOX DISCONTINUITY LAYER where aerobic bacteria is on the top layer, next is fermenting bacteria, sulphate reducing bacteria and then methaneogenic bacteria
Feeding modes on sediment shores
Deposit feeders in course environments they take detritus off particles and pass it through their bodies e.g. lugworms
Suspension feeders collect what they need from waters surrounding them
Chemoautotrophs use chemicals from hydrothermal vents to create food
Burrowing on sediment shores
Burrowing is an adaptation to life on sediment shores to avoid predation
Two phases of burrowing
Penetration and burrowing movement
