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Maritime ENGLISH Session 1 – Part 2 Coastal Habitats Sussex UK Coastal Saltmarsh Coastal Saltmarsh Coastal saltmarshes lie at the top of the intertidal zone on fine sediments. The vegetation here is adapted to regular immersion by the tide. Importance •Saltmarshes are an important resource for breeding and wintering wading birds and wildfowl. •They provide sheltered nursery sites for several species of fish. •Areas with high structural and plant diversity are particularly important for invertebrates. Threats •“Coastal squeeze” resulting from coastal development, erosion and coastal defences, restricts the ability of saltmarsh habitat to move. •Disruption of natural coastal processes as a result of coastal protection work, dredging or coastal defences can affect natural sediment systems. •Non-native species such as Cord Grass. Coastal Sand Dunes Coastal Sand Dunes Coastal sand dunes form above the high water mark on sufficiently large beach plains and are stabilised by dune-building. Importance •Sand dunes display a clear succession of vegetation from Marram Grass dominance to diverse plant communities, containing rare and specialised species such as Childing Pink. •They are important areas for reptiles including the uncommon Sand Lizard. •Sand dune systems are important for invertebrates such as bees, moths and grasshoppers and several notable species can be found. •Dune systems are important geomorphological structures; existing only under certain conditions, and they offer a valuable opportunity to study natural coastal processes. Threats •Sand dunes are a mobile habitat however coastal development and sea defences can restrict their ability to move, threatening their integrity. •Recreation can damage fragile communities by trampling and erosion of the dunes. •A lack of management can result in dominance by scrub and loss of many important species. •Introduction of non-native species. Coastal Vegetated Shingle Coastal Vegetated Shingle Shingle is an accumulation of pebbles with a diameter between 2-200mm. In Sussex the shingle is composed mainly of flint pebbles derived by marine or glacial erosion of Cretaceous chalk and Tertiary deposits. Importance •Vegetated shingle is a rare habitat and some of the plants and animals found here are very restricted in their distribution. •Nutrient levels are low and many plants found here have special adaptations to conserve water and prevent damage by salt spray, wind and shifting shingle. •Shingle is important for breeding birds, in particular gulls and terns. •Many rare species are found including species of moth and spider. Threats •Coastal defence work can interrupt natural sediment movement which affects coastal habitats including vegetated shingle. •Sea level rise and increased storms could destroy vegetated shingle areas. •Recreation impacts including trampling, disturbance of animals and introduction of non-native plant species. Intertidal Mudflats Intertidal Mudflats Mudflats are sedimentary intertidal habitats created by deposition in low energy coastal environments particularly estuaries and other sheltered areas. Importance •Mudflats are part of a habitat sequence between open water and saltmarsh, and have an important role in reducing the impact of waves upon saltmarshes, damage to coastal defences and flooding of low-lying. •A wide range of invertebrates is supported including molluscs, annelids and lugworms. •Mudflats are highly productive, making them important feeding areas for birds. They support internationally important populations of migrant and wintering waders. •Due to their sheltered nature mudflats are important areas for fish, in particular flatfish, which use them as nursery areas. Threats •Sea level rise is expected to result in the loss of up to 10000 hectares of intertidal mudflat by 2013, with much of this in southern England. •Land claim for development, and industry including hard flood defences. •Pollution from agricultural, industrial and urban sources. •Human disturbance from fishing and bait digging can have adverse impacts. •Introduction of invasive species such as Cord Grass. Maritime Cliff and Slope Maritime Cliff and Slope Maritime cliffs and slopes comprise sloping to vertical faces on the coastline where a break in slope is formed by slippage and/or coastal erosion. The cliff-top is the area receiving a maritime influence from salt spray, which may continue for up to 500 metres Importance •Cliff faces provide important nesting sites for birds such as Rock Pipit and Kittiwake •The terrestrial and maritime influences have led to evolution of specialist invertebrates many of which are now scarce; in Sussex this includes species of beetle, fly and spider. •A number of rare plants are found on cliff tops including Hoary Stock and Early Gentian. •Cliff bases can have important assemblages of lichens and algae. Threats •“Coastal squeeze” resulting from coastal development restricting the ability of coastal habitats to retreat landwards with natural erosion, and fragmenting the habitat. •Disruption of natural coastal processes caused by coastal defence work or offshore dredging can affect natural sediment systems and may actually increase erosion. •Recreation can cause disturbance to animals and speed up cliff top erosion. •Lack of management on cliff tops can result in loss of grassland to scrub. •Increased run-off from arable land or urban areas can accelerate erosion as well as introducing pollution to the cliff and marine environment. Saline Lagoons Saline Lagoons Lagoons are natural or artificial bodies of saline water partially separated from the sea by shingle, sand, a rocky shore or sea wall. Seawater input can be through percolation, via a channel or by overtopping. Importance •The salinity of lagoons can vary considerably, and they support specialised species of plants and animals, which reflect the degree of salinity. •Lagoons often have soft sediments (mud or sand) making them important for burrowing invertebrates, and stoneworts some of which are extremely rare. •Lagoons provide important habitat for birds. Threats •Saline lagoons will often naturally fill-in through vegetation succession. This would naturally be offset by lagoon creation; however this may be limited by human activity. •Pollution, particularly through nutrient enrichment, affects the vegetation community. •Artificial control of water input to lagoons will affect salinity. •Coastal defence work can interrupt natural sediment movement which affects coastal habitats and structures including lagoons. •Sea level rise will lead to the loss of some lagoons; however it may also result in the creation of new ones.