Chapter 25 Coastal principles of ecology

CHAPTER 25 COASTAL & WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS Transitional Environments are classified based on: -

Underlying Geology

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Substrate (sediment type, size & shape)

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Product of marine erosion o Rocky shore 

most primitive type of coast

o Sandy beaches 

Wave –dominated

Transitional Zones between freshwater and land -

Dominated by plants with saturated soil o Marshes o Swamps o Bogs o Zones of emergent vegetation

25.1 The Intertidal Zone is the Transition Between Terrestrial and Marine Environments -

Intertidal Zone o Alternately exposed and submerged by tides o Conditions change hourly depending on tides 

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Low Tide 

More of terrestrial

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Uppermost layers of intertidal life exposed to air

So bale sinasabi lang ng part na to is may intertidal zone tapos dahil iba iba condition from time to time may zonation of life char

25.2 Rocky Shorelines Have a Distinct Pattern of Zonation -

3 Basic Zones o Supralittoral/ Supratidal Zone (terrestrial) 

Supralittoral Fringe 

First major change from terrestrial envi

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Saltwater comes every 2 weeks on spring tides

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Marked by BLACK ZONE (lol supralitorral si lance) o Black dahil may cyanobacteria with lichens and green alga 

o Littoral/ Intertidal Zone

**nonmarine community

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Covered by tides

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So dito may mga zones nanaman jusko

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UPPER AREA: Barnacles

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MIDDLE/LOWER AREA: Oysters, mussels & limpets

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LOWER THAN THE LOWER (ano raw?): Brown Alga

Infralittoral Fringe 

Lowest part of littoral zone

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Exposed for short periods of time

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Dahil lowest maraming brown alga: LAMINARIA (forest daw peg)

o Infralitorral/Subtidal Zone -

Waves o Brings in nutrients o Keeps seaweed in constant motion o Heavy waves reduce predator action (rawr) o So ano ang conclusion? Disturbances influence community structure. Mga waves na nanggugulo nakakaapekto ng buhay ayon lamang

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Tides leave pools of water o Pools of water are distinct habitats, microecosystems in itself

25.3 Sandy and Muddy Shores are Harsh Environments -

Sandy Shore o Product of weathering of rock 

Rivers & Waves carry products of rock weathering



Size of sand particles deposited influences deposit of sandy beach

o If beach is flat, outgoing tidal currents are slow leaving behind a residue of organic material 

Kapag flat-chested ka konti lang action nakukuha mo. Mabagal usad ng lovelife. Mabagal din mga waves char

o Life on sandy beaches has no surface for attachment of seaweeds 

This is why life is mostly beneath the sand 

Wag kasi maattach, itago mo, ibaon mo sa lupa lahat ng feelings

o ZONES OF LIFE IN SANDY/MUDDY BEACHES aka mga nagbabaon sa sarili 

Epifauna 

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Lives on sediment surface

Infauna 

Living in sediments

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Occupy permanent/semipermanent tubes

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Meiofauna (type of infauna) o Tiny organisms

o Live between particles of sand and mud o Mga parasites to mga nematodes , copepods o ZONES in the beach 

Supralittoral 



Upper beach

Littoral 

Intertidal beach o Where true marine life appears

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Organisms in sand and mud do not experience fluctuating temperatures o Syempre naman, nagtatago, so walang maeexperience. Sheltered sila.

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Energy base for life on the sandy shore is accumulation of organic matter

25.4 Tides and Salinity Dictate the Structure of Salt Marshes -

Salt/Tidal Marshes o Occur in temperate latitudes o Where coastlines are protected from waves, within estuaries, deltas etc o Dictated by tides and salinity (malamang nasa title na hahaah)

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On the Seaward edge of Marshes/Tidal Creeks o Cordgrass 

Forms marginal strip between open mud to front of the high marsh



High tolerance of salinity, lives in a semisubmerged state 

 -

Martyr. Maalat na ang buhay linulunod pa ang sarili hahaha

Has hollow tubes leading from leaf to root for oxygen diffusion

High Marsh o Higher salinity o Decreased input of nutrients 

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Lower tidal exchange rate in low marsh

Creeks o Form an intricate system of drainage channels that carry tidal waters back to sea o Taga-buhat si creek ng tubig pabalik sa ocean

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Salt Pans o Circular/elliptical depressions flooded at high tide o At low tide, filled with saltwater o May be invaded with glasswort/spikegrass if shallow since it can evaporate immediately

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Low tides in marshes bring in predators

25.5 Mangroves Replace Salt Marshes in Tropical Regions -

Replaces salt marshes in tropical regions are mangroves forests or mangals

o Covers 60-75% in tropical regions -

Develop where: o Wave action is absent o Sediments accumulate o Mud is anoxic (WALANG OXYGEN)

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Mangroves o Have penumatophores 

Root extensions

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Take in oxygen

o Rich Diversity 

Branches – birds

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Roots – snails

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Stems – crabs

25.6 Freshwater Wetlands are a Diverse Group of Ecosystems -

Wetlands across the world: (cover areas of landscape) o Everglades – Florida o Pantanal – Brazil o Okavango – South Africa o Fens - England

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Wetlands o Usually has saturated soil that support life 

Hydrophytic Plants 

Water-adapted plants

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Anaerobic; no oxygen cause of excess water

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Classified into 3 groups: o Obligate wetland plants 

Require saturated soils

o Facultative Wetland plants 

Grow saturated/upland soil

o Occasional Wetland 

Tolerates wetland

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Determines upper limit of wetlands

o Occur in 3 topographic situations: 

Basin Wetlands 

Develop in shallow basins

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Vertical water flow

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Riverine Wetlands 

Along shallow flooded banks of rivers

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Unidirectional water flow

Fringe Wetlands 

Along coasts of large lakes

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Bidirectional water flow

o Wetlands dominated by vegetation are called MARSHES o Forested wetlands are called SWAMPS -

Bottomland/Riparian Woodlands o Along river systems o Extensive tracts o Seasonally flooded by river water o Dry for the growing season

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Peatlands/Mires o Wetlands with decayed organic matter o Fens 

Sedges that dominate

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Feeds mires with nutrients

o Bogs 

Mires that are dependent on precipitation for water supply

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With Sphagnum

o Blanket Mires and Raised Bogs 

Developed in upperland situations

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Compressed peat forming a barrier

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Raised bogs popularly known moors 

Bogs depend on precipitation for nutrient inputs

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Deficient in mineral salts and low in pH

o Quaking Bogs 

Form when a lake basin fills in from above than below

27.7 Hydrology Defines Structure of Freshwater Wetlands -

Hydrology has 2 components: o Physical aspects of water and movement (precipitation etc) o Hydroperiod 

Hahaha may period ang tubig

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Duration, frequency and depth of flooding

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Hahahaha bumabaha yung period

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Influences plant growth

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Basin Wetlands o Have long hydroperiods

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Riverine Wetlands o Short hydroperiods

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Fringe Wetlands o Influenced by wind and lake waves o Short and regular

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Zonation reflects wet-ground species response

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Andaming animals masyado per season and area feel ko di na kailangan hahaha jusq o Sana hindi kasama huhu sorry kung oo

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Drought o Marsh bottom is exposed by receding water o Stimulates seed germination of mudflats 

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Water levels rise, mudflats disperse

Peatlands o Accumulation of peat because organic matter is produced faster than it is decomposed o Oligotrophic and dystrophic conditions usually o Exist in temperate and tropical areas

25.8 Freshwater Wetlands Support A Rich Diversity of Life -

Mostly animals and data feel ko di naman important LELS -

END OF CHAPTER 25 *bow* -