The Ecology of Sandy Shores

The Ecology of Sandy Shores provides the students and researchers with a one-volume resource for understanding the conservation and management of the sandy shore ecosystem. Covering all beach types, and addressing issues from the behavioral and physiological adaptations of the biota to exploring the effects of pollution and the impact of man's activities, this book should become the standard reference for those interested in Sandy Shore study, management and preservation. * More than 25% expanded from the previous edition * Three entirely new chapters: Energetics and Nutrient Cycling, Turtles and Terrestrial Vertebrates, and Benthic Macrofauna Populations * New sections on the interstitial environment, seagrasses, human impacts and coastal zone management * Examples drawn from virtually all parts of the world, considering all beach types from the most exposed to the most sheltered

Acknowledgements

v

Introduction

1

(4)

The Physical Environment

5

(26)

Introduction

6

(1)

Sand

6

(4)

Waves

10

(5)

Other Drivers of Water Movement

15

(2)

Sand Transport

17

(1)

Interactions Among Beach Slope, Waves, Tides, and Sand

18

(1)

Beach Indices

19

(1)

Beach Types

20

(4)

Circulation Cells and Mixing

24

(1)

Embayments and Headlands

25

(1)

Swash Climate

26

(2)

Slope

28

(1)

Latitudinal Effects

29

(1)

Conclusions

29

(2)

The Interstitial Environment

31

(24)

Introduction

32

(1)

Characteristics of the System

32

(4)

Processes of Water Input

36

(4)

Water Filtration

40

(6)

Water Table Fluctuations

46

(3)

Interstitial Chemistry

49

(4)

The Interstitial Environment

53

(1)

Conclusions

54

(1)

Beach and Surf-zone Flora

55

(10)

Introduction

55

(1)

Benthic Microflora

55

(2)

Surf-zone Phytoplankton

57

(5)

Seagrasses

62

(2)

Conclusions

64

(1)

Sandy-beach Invertebrates

65

(26)

Introduction

65

(1)

Important Groups

66

(24)

Conclusions

90

(1)

Adaptations to Sandy-beach Life

91

(34)

Introduction

91

(1)

Locomotion

92

(7)

Rhythms of Activity

99

(6)

Sensory Responses and Orientation

105

(3)

Choice of Habitat

108

(3)

Nutrition

111

(2)

Respiration

113

(3)

Environmental Tolerances

116

(3)

Reproduction

119

(1)

Aggregations and Gregariousness

120

(1)

Avoidance of Predators

121

(1)

Phenotypic Plasticity

121

(1)

Conclusions

122

(3)

Benthic Macrofauna Communities

125

(38)

Introduction

125

(1)

Sampling

126

(2)

Taxonomic Composition

128

(1)

Macroscale Patterns

129

(11)

Mesoscale Patterns

140

(10)

Microscale Patterns

150

(9)

Trophic Relations

159

(2)

Conclusions

161

(2)

Benthic Macrofauna Populations

163

(18)

Introduction

163

(1)

Macroscale Patterns

164

(4)

Mesoscale Patterns

168

(5)

Microscale Patterns

173

(2)

Invertebrate Fisheries

175

(4)

Conclusions

179

(2)

Interstitial Ecology

181

(16)

Introduction

181

(1)

Interstitial Climate

182

(1)

Sampling

183

(1)

Interstitial Biota

183

(3)

Distribution of Interstitial Fauna

186

(2)

Temporal Changes

188

(1)

Meiofaunal Communities

189

(3)

Trophic Relationships

192

(1)

Biological Interactions

193

(2)

Meiofauna and Pollution

195

(1)

Conclusions

195

(2)

Surf-zone Fauna

197

(18)

Introduction

197

(1)

Zooplankton

197

(6)

Fishes

203

(9)

Other Groups

212

(1)

Conclusions

212

(3)

Turtles and Terrestrial Vertebrates

215

(8)

Introduction

215

(1)

Turtles

215

(3)

Birds

218

(4)

Conclusions

222

(1)

Energetics and Nutrient Cycling

223

(28)

Introduction

223

(1)

Food Sources

224

(2)

Macroscopic Food Chains

226

(7)

Interstitial Food Chains

233

(3)

The Microbial Loop in Surf Waters

236

(2)

Energy Flow in Beach and Surf-zone Ecosystems

238

(2)

Case Study: Sandy Beaches of the Eastern Cape

240

(4)

Nutrient Cycling

244

(4)

Conclusions

248

(3)

Coastal Dune Ecosystems and Dune/Beach Interactions

251

(22)

Introduction

251

(1)

The Physical Environment

252

(1)

Coastal Dune Formation by Vegetation

253

(1)

Dune Types

254

(3)

Edaphic Features

257

(1)

Water

258

(1)

The Gradient Across Coastal Dunefields

259

(1)

Dune Vegetation

259

(2)

The Fauna

261

(4)

Food Chains

265

(2)

Dune/Beach Exchanges

267

(1)

A Case Study of Dune/Beach Exchanges

268

(3)

Conclusions

271

(2)

Human Impacts

273

(30)

Introduction

274

(1)

Pollution

274

(10)

Recreational Activities

284

(4)

Global Warming

288

(2)

Direct Human Pressure

290

(1)

Altering the Landscape

291

(6)

Natural Impacts

297

(1)

Human Influence on the Evolution of Beaches

297

(3)

Conclusions

300

(3)

Coastal Zone Management

303

(22)

Introduction

303

(1)

The Littoral Active Zone

304

(2)

Summary of Threats

306

(1)

Principles of Coastal Zone Management

307

(9)

Management, Planning, and Implementation

316

(1)

Case Studies

317

(5)

Conservation

322

(1)

Conclusions

323

(2)

Glossary

325

(4)

References

329

(24)

Appendices

353

(4)

Appendix A: Measures of Beach Type

353

(2)

Appendix B: The Chemical Environment of Sediments

355

(2)

Index

357

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.