Homework:
Complete the worksheet on Sand dunes
How do sand dunes
form?
• Sand dunes develop and change over time and
as they change, so too does their biodiversity.
• The plants that colonise them are highly
specialised to survive such dry, dynamic
conditions and are not found in any other
habitat.
• This is called succession.
Embryo Dunes
Sand becomes trapped at the end of the beach.
Because the sand is so inhospitable only the very
resistant plants will grow here such as lyme
grass or sea couch grass. These plants are
called pioneers.
As the plants grow these stabilise the dune and
an embryo dune is formed.
Embryo and Fore Dunes: the
environment
on-shore winds
high
water
mark
seawee
poor water d
sand builds up
retention deposit
against pioneer
plants s
humus
transient
dunes
pH 7
%OM 0.1 sand
alkaline
Embryo and Fore Dunes: the
plants
The plants which grow here
have adaptations which allow
them to grow in a difficult
environment : Frosted orache
• waxy leaves to retain
moisture and withstand
winds
• prostrate (low) habit
to avoid strong Sandwort
winds
• deep tap roots to obtain
available moisture
• high salt tolerance
Saltwort
Sea rocket Sea couch
Foredunes
• As the embryo dune develops in height and size it
becomes a foredune.
• Sea couch grass is common as it is able to retain
water so it can grow in arid conditions.
• Marram grass is also common and this has long
roots (rhizomes) to seek food/water. This helps to
stabilise the dune.
Yellow dunes
• As the dune develops further it becomes
known as a yellow dune because of the
sand that is found there.
• The vegetation increases the amount of
organic matter on the dune which is good
for water retention.
Yellow Dunes: the environment
above the
level of
high tides
‘Soil’ slightly
less alkaline Some
reduced and more humus
wind water forming
speeds retentive
Surface
pH 6.5 continually blown
away and
%OM 0.23 replenished with
fresh sand
Yellow Dunes: the plants
The dominant plant species is
Marram grass:
• Salt tolerant
• Thrives on being buried by
sand
• Inrolled leaves to reduce
moisture loss
• Long tap roots
• Underground rhizomes stabilise
the sand
Other plants such as Ragwort, Red fescue and Sand
sedge begin to appear
Grey dunes
• Grey dunes are fixed dunes. The grey like
appearance is a product of organic matter and
the development of humus from the vegetation.
• The organic layer that develops provides good
conditions for the development of vegetation
such as red fescue and lichens.
Grey Dunes: the environment
sheltered by
higher, seaward
dunes
lower pH
little mobile
sand higher
sand no humus
longer content
accumulating
a more closed
vegetation community
in which marram grass
pH 5 - 6 is no longer able to
%OM 1.0 compete
Grey Dunes: the plants
• higher species diversity
• mainly perennials
• marram becomes more
sparse
• surface lichens give
‘grey’ appearance
Older grey dunes may have
extensive covering of
lichens and heather
Dune Slacks
• In some places dune slacks develop.
These are depressions in the sand dunes
which are close to the water table and
are home to reeds and rushes which
require lots of moisture.
Dune Slacks: the environment
occur in low lying
hollows between
dune ridges
relief
intersects
soil the water
acidic table
water table
pH 4 - 5 high –
especially in
%OM 8.5 winter
Dune Slacks: the plants
The community which develops here comprises moisture-loving
plants commonly found in many fresh water wetland areas e.g.
rushes
Flag iris
Phragmites reeds
Bog
cotton
Dune Heath
• Behind the yellow and grey dunes the supply
of beach sand is cut off. The main plants
here are heather and buckthorn.
• Towards the back of the dune heath there are
trees such as birch and oak. This is beginning
to become a climatic climax. (The optimum
vegetation for a specific climate).
Dune Heath/Woodland: the
environment
maritime
well influence is
sheltered minimal
from winds
acidic
soil
nutrient rich
soil has high
pH 4
organic matter
% OM 12.1 content
Dune Heath / Woodland: the
plants
Human interference means that true
mixed woodland climax vegetation is
rarely seen on dune systems in the UK
Most dune systems develop into a
community of heathland, woody
perennials (often spinous) and
Heather
scattered trees
Heather Sea buckthorn
