CASE STUDY psammosere Succession

Question 1

Fact and figure intro
Where
Length
Managed

Answer 1

My case study is about the psammosere succession in STUDLAND BAY, SOUTH COAST OF ENGLAND. It is a unique and relatively untouched and stretches 4km. This area is managed by the NATIONAL TRUST

Question 2

DUNE formation
Initial formation
Over how many years
4 main lines of sandunes

Answer 2

Sandunes are initially formed here by PREVAILING ONSHORE WINDS blowing abundant sediment onto BACKSHORE OBSTACLES, which creates the embryo dune. The 4 main lines of dunes consist of EMBRYO, YELLOW, GREY, and WASHING DUNES

Question 3

Embryo dunes
Where
Colonisers
Adaptions of colonisers
What can the colonisers survive

Answer 3

Psammosere succession starts at the beach side . This is where BARE SAND is colonised by SEA COUCH and SEA LYME.

These colonisers are HALOPHYTIC, resistant to high salt conditions and XEROPHYTIC, resistant to lack of water

Sea couch and sea Lyme can survive 4 main limiting factors including EXTREME SOIL PH8, EXTREME WIND, LIMITED WATER and LACK OF ORGANIC CONTENT

Question 4

Yellow dunes
Where
What do they exceed
What creates different abiotic conditions for next plant species to survive
What new plant species is developed and what is its characteristics

Answer 4

Yellow dunes are found MORE INWARDS and exceed the younge embryo dune

GROWTHAND DECAY of sea couch and sea Lyme colonisers creates different ABIOTIC CONDITIONS for next plant species to serve

MARRAM GRASS is the new plant species. Marram grass is xerophitic and halophyric. Growth is stimulated by burial and its roots are 5x as long as top

Marram grass can survive in slightly lower ph of 8, the wind is less extreme. There is more water available due to the

Question 5

Grey dunes
Where
Succeed
Plants and why they survive
Characteristics of environment

Answer 5

The GREY DUNES are the next serial stage which is more inwards from the sea

The grey dunes EXCEED the yellow dunes

ROSETTE PLANTS, HERBS and HEATHER start to dominate
The can survive higher pH of 7.5 created from added organic content from previous sere

MORE WATER AVAILABLE due to water retaining properties with additional HUMUS, more complex and tall vegetation

LESS WIND due to more shelter from pervious sere

Question 6

Washing dunes
Species found
Exceeded
Creation of different abiotic conditions
Dominating plants
Describe abiotic conditions

Answer 6

In the washing dunes which are again further inwards from sea, we find more complex plants AND animals including DARTFORD BIRD and DRAGONFLIES

Washing dunes exceed the grey dunes

More growth, death and decay of ROSETTE PLANTS, HERBS and HEATHER create different abiotic conditions

SHRUBS, GRASS, ASHTREES, DRAGONFLIES and DARTFORD BIRDS start to dominate

Vegetation can survive a more neutral pH of 6.5

Wind shelter is abundant and water content increased due to added organic content to soil

Question 7

What is found after the third ridge of boggy washing dunes

Answer 7

STUDLAND HEATH

Question 8

Studland heath
What
What does national trust do

Answer 8

Studland heath is a HEATHER MOORELAND PLAGIOCLIMAX TOTALLING 700 acres

National trust prevents climatic climax community (DENSE ASH AND OAK TREES) from becoming established

Done byCONTROLLED AUTUMN BURNING and GRAZING ANIMALS including RABBITS which keep the area as HEATHLAND so that all6 NATIVE BRITISH REPTILES can survive
Sand lizard
Common lizard
Slow worm
Grass snake
Adders
Rare smooth snake

If area was to develop these reptiles from being replaced