Seashores: an ecological guide

Description

Cover Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Contents; Introduction; 1 Elements of the Coast; Basic principles; The ecosystem; Abiotic factors; The tides; Wave action and types of shore; Biotic factors; Primary production; Consumers; Nutrient flow and decomposition; 2 Rocky Shores; Part 1: The communities; Cliffs and sea-bird colonies; Splash zone community; Upper shore community; Middle shore community; Lower shore community; Laminaria zone: the transition from littoral to sub-littoral; Part 2: Ecology of the shore; 3 Plankton; Introduction; Phytoplankton; Zooplankton; Plankton blooms.;Seashores - An Ecological Guide provides an easy-to-use, authoritative reference to commonly occurring organisms. By looking at the habitats of the coastline, it focuses on key species you are likely to find. The book explains how these organisms have adapted and how they are able to cope with the environmental stresses of the seashore. With over 400 colour photographs, the guide looks first at the physical and biological features that determine our coast before surveying the variety of communities that exist on our shores. These include: rocky shores; sand and mud; estuaries; salt-marsh; sand. Cover Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents Introduction 1 Elements of the Coast Basic principles The ecosystem Abiotic factors The tides Wave action and types of shore Biotic factors Primary production Consumers Nutrient flow and decomposition 2 Rocky Shores Part 1: The communities Cliffs and sea-bird colonies Splash zone community Upper shore community Middle shore community Lower shore community Laminaria zone: the transition from littoral to sub-littoral Part 2: Ecology of the shore 3 Plankton Introduction Phytoplankton Zooplankton Plankton blooms. 4 Sediment ShoresPart 1: The communities Upper and middle sandy shore communities Lower sandy shore communities Estuarine and muddy shore communities Part 2: Ecology of sediment shores 5 Salt-marsh Part 1: The communities Lower salt-marsh -- pioneer zone Salt-marsh creek community Upper salt-marsh community Part 2: Ecology of the salt-marsh 6 Sand Dunes Part 1: The communities Embryo dune -- the pioneer zone Yellow dune community -- mobile dunes Grey dune community -- fixed dunes with shell sand present Grey dune community -- fixed dunes with silica sand. Slack community -- damp alkaline slacksSlack community -- damp acidic slacks Part 2: Colonization and succession of sand dune communities 7 Shingle 8 Threats and Conservation Introduction Pollutants Climate change, invasive and alien species Direct action on the shore Marine conservation Glossary Reference and Further Information Appendix: Classification of the Organisms Discussed in this Book Index.