SANDY BEACH

CHARACTERISTICS

ORIGINS OF SAND:

• RIVER SEDIMENT

• ERODED ROCKS & LAVA

• CRUSHED CORAL & SHELLS

HARSH ENVIRONMENT WAVES:

CRASH ONTO THE BEACH DISTURBING THE SAND

CURRENTS:

LIFT & CARRY SAND AND ORGANISMS AWAY

HARSH ENVIRONMENT

SHIFTING SAND:

CREATES AN UNSTABLE

ENVIRONMENT FOR PLANTS

TIDES:

COVER & UNCOVER THE

BEACH TWICE EACH DAY

HARSH ENVIRONMENT

WIND:

DRY & SALTY

CAUSES DEHYDRATION

CARRIES SAND WHICH CREATES

& SHAPES THE DUNES

ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

DUNE EROSION:

LOSS OF VEGETATION & STORM

DAMAGE ERODE LARGE AREAS OF

SAND – CALLED A “BLOW-OUT”

FENCES HELP STABELIZE THE

DUNES AND HOLD SAND IN PLACE

WATER POLLUTION:

PLASTICS WASH UP ON THE

BEACH AND ARE EATEN BY MANY

ANIMALS (ESPECIALLY BIRDS)

ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

BEACH EROSION:

LOSS OF SAND FROM WIND,

CURRENTS & STORMS

ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

Storm & hurricane

erosion repairs can

be very costly

BEACH EROSION

JETTY:

ROCK WALL TO STABILIZE AN

INLET AND BLOCK WAVES FOR

BOATS

http://www.marykay.com/jcizek

BEACH EROSION

GROIN:

WALLS BUILT INTO THE

SAND TO SLOW EROSION

DREDGING: MECHANICAL PROCESS OF

TAKING SAND FROM THE OCEAN BOTTOM

AND PUTTING IT ON AN ERODED BEACH

HALOPHYTE:

A PLANT ADAPTED TO SALTY

ENVIRONMENTS

ex: dune grass, seaweeds

SPECIAL TERMS

XEROPHYTE:

A PLANT ADAPTED TO DRY/ARID

ENVIRONMENTS

ex: dune grass, cactus

SPECIAL TERMS

INFAUNA:

ANIMALS THAT LIVE IN OR

UNDER THE SAND

(CLAMS & WORMS)

SPECIAL TERMS

EPIFAUNA:

ANIMALS THAT LIVE ABOVE

THE SAND

(BIRDS & FISH)

SPECIAL TERMS

HIGH TIDE LINE

LOW TIDE LINE

ANIMALS & PLANTS OF

THE SANDY BEACH

SEEDS FOR WIND

DISPERSAL

XEROPHYTES -

WAXY LEAVES REDUCE

WATER LOSS

HALOPHYTES –

SALT TOLERANT

DEEP ROOTS TO

HOLD SAND

USE ROOTS TO

REPRODUCE

SAND-COLORED FOR CAMOUFLAGE

LIGHT COLOR TO KEEP COOL

DEEP BURROWS FOR PROTECTION

& TO STAY COOL & MOIST

BIRDS HAVE LONG LEGS, NECKS &

BEAKS FOR WADING IN THE WATER

NEST IN THE DUNES

SAND COLORED FOR CAMOUFLAGE

BURROW FOR PROTECTION

USE ANTENNAE TO FILTER PLANKTON

FOR FOOD

BURROW UNDER THE SURFACE

FISH ARE SAND COLORED

SUMMARY

• THE SANDY BEACH IS A HARSH

ENVIRONMENT

• ANIMALS BURROW FOR

PROTECTION

• GRASSES HOLD THE SAND DUNE

TOGETHER