coastal systems -estuarine environments (salt marshes and mud flats)

Question 1

how does a mudflat form from a spit?

Answer 1

.a spit grows out into the channel of an estuary and it shelters the water behind, encouraging deposition of sediment
.over time this sediment accumulates to form mudflats

Question 2

how is a salt marsh formed from a spit?

Answer 2

.further accumulation may allow vegetation succession to take place, in the form of a salt marsh

Question 3

what are mudflats?

Answer 3

.low-lying areas of shore that are submerged at high tide and exposed at low tide made of silt and clay

Question 4

where do mudflats develop?

Answer 4

.only develop on sheltered shorelines that are not exposed to powerful waves with low wave energy

Question 5

what causes clay to be deposited and accumulate?

Answer 5

.floculation

Question 6

what is floculation?

Answer 6

.chemical reaction that happens when salt water meets fresh water

Question 7

what does floculation cause?

Answer 7

.causes individual clay particles to aggregate (stick together) to form larger, heavier particles that enables them to sink and be deposited on the seabed

Question 8

what are salt marshes?

Answer 8

.develop from mudflats over time
.often covered at high tide and exposed at low tide
.example of a halosere as they develop over time exhibiting a clear vegetation succession

Question 9

how are salt marshes formed?

Answer 9

.by deposition of fine material -this is aided by the growth of eelgrass that slows currents and leads to further deposition
.mud has deepened and pioneers colonise which traps more mud -eg -glasswort (halophyte)
.pioneer species allows other plants to colonise trapping more sediment causing the marsh surface to rise eg-marram grass