Role of Vegetation and Sand dune succession Flashcards
Vegetation helps to stabilise coastlines because
The plant roots help to bind the soil/sand together reducing the impact of erosion
Wind speeds are reduced by vegetation which decreases erosion and increases deposition
Dead plant material adds organic matter to the sand and eventually leads to the formation of soil
Vegetation is often sparse in coastal environments because
Exposure to salty/saline water
High wind speeds
Lack of shade
Lack of nutrients
Pioneer species
in the coastal environment are the first plants to grow in the harsh coastal environment, paving the way for other plants that are less able to survive the conditions
Pioneer species:
Help to stabilise the sediment
Add organic matter
Increase shade
Trap more sediment
and dune succession is an example of this process
The succession in a sand environment is called a
psammosere
Sand dunes are a dynamic environment
Sandy beaches usually have sand dunes at their rear, because of
strong onshore winds transporting dried, exposed sand
Sand grains are trapped and deposited against any obstacle……………………. and begin to form…..
rubbish, rocks, driftwood
embryo dunes
Dune ridges move inland due to
onshore winds pushing the seaward side to the leeward side
It is the interaction of winds and vegetation that helps form sand dunes