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
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