Psammosere

Question 1

Psammosere adaptations

Answer 1

Must adapt to a dry, salty, mobile, no humus environment

Question 2

What is needed to form a psammosere

Answer 2

Obstacle to trap sand, strong winds for saltation, plentiful sand supply

Question 3

Pioneer stage

Answer 3

Seeds blown in by wind/washed in by sea. Poor rooting conditions as strong winds, salty water, alkaline, rapid rain soaking through

Question 4

Building stage

Answer 4

Plants trap sand and water with roots, decay creates humus, less hardy plants replace pioneers

Question 5

Climax stage

Answer 5

Taller and more complex plants grow, become established

Question 6

Embryo and fore dunes

Answer 6

Mobile, pH 7 so poor water retention, OM%=0.1, sand builds against pioneer plants, sea couch, saltwort, sandwort (prostrate habit)

Question 7

Yellow dunes

Answer 7

Mobile, pH 6.5, OM%=0.23, ragwort, sand sedge, marram grass (underground rhizomes)

Question 8

Grey dunes

Answer 8

Sheltered, pH 5-6, OM%=1, no more sand, look grey as surface lichen and more as older, heather, mainly perennials as roots stay

Question 9

Dune slacks

Answer 9

pH 4-5, OM%=8.5, moisture loving plants, high biodiversity, rushes, bog cotton

Question 10

Dune heath

Answer 10

Sheltered, pH 4, OM%=12.1, plagioclimax is heathland and woody perennials, heather, sea buckthorn