The physical and biological features of coastal habitats

Physical Features of Coastal Habitats

Coastal habitats include features such as salt marshes, sand dunes, estuaries, and rocky shores.
A shoreline is a borderline running along the edge of the sea, including any large scale features such as bays, peninsulas, and seas.
Tides, waves, and wind play a significant role in shaping and constantly changing coastal habitats.
Coastal erosion is a natural process where the sea and wind wear away the land, and can be accelerated by human activities.
Coastal areas can be flat or rugged and cliff-like, depending on the rock types and their resistance to erosion.
Beach materials can be sandy, pebbly or rocky, and are deposited where the energy of the waves decreases.

Biological Features of Coastal Habitats

Coastal habitats support diverse life forms, both plant and animal species.
Salt marshes provide a habitat for many bird species, invertebrates, and various salt-tolerant plants.
Dunes offer an environment for a range of plants, such as marram grass, that are adapted to grow in dry, unstable and salty conditions.
The rocky shore ecosystem is characterised by species adapted to regular changes in temperature, moisture, and salinity caused by the tide, including various seaweeds, crustaceans, and molluscs.
Estuaries, where the river meets the sea, often have mudflats and sandbanks, providing habitats for water birds, fish, and invertebrates.
Coastal waters are home to a variety of marine life, including fish, mammals (like seals and dolphins), and numerous invertebrate species.
Coastal ecosystems often show a clear zonation pattern due to differences in exposure to wave action, salt exposure, and other environmental parameters.
These habitats are important breeding grounds, feeding grounds, and nurseries for many species, some of which are rare or endangered.
Coastal habitats are directed by the sea’s influence, so adaptations to salinity, water movement, and changing temperatures are common in coastal species.