A Coastal Habitat Case Study - Geography GCSE

Keyhaven Marshes

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  • Created by: Né M
  • Created on: 05-06-12 15:00

Introduction

Location: Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire 
                 -Behind Hurst Castle Spit

 It supports a large range of habitats, such as:

  • grassland
  • scrub
  • salt marsh
  • reed beds

The variety of habitats is very important, and supports a rich diversity of wildlife in the area

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Common Wildlife Species

Plants:

  • Cordgrass
    -a pioneer plant: spiky and untidy and grows fast on mudflats
  • Sea Lavender - colourfull flowers attract wildlife

Birds:

  • Oystercatcher - feeds and nests in salt marshes
  • Ringed Plover
    -feeds between low and high tide and nests in the salt marshes

Insects:

  • Common Blue Butterfly
    -commonly found on higher marshes
  • Wold Spider
    -clings for hours to submerged stems of cordgrass to wait for low tide and food
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How the salt marsh is under threat

  • The salt marsh is retreating by upto 6m a year
    -sea-level rise threatens a squeeze of the salt marsh as it lies between the sea and a sea wall
  • The salt marsh has been under threat from the breaching of the Hurst Castle spit during several storms
    -In 1989, 50-80m of salt marsh was exposed to the sea due to a storm, and it was eroded in under 3 months
  • In 1996 rock armour and beach nourishment were used to increase the height of the spit, in order to prevent breaching
  • Increasing numbers of people want to visit the salt marsh for leisure and tourism
    -careful management is required to prevent damage
    -the area is popular with mariners who moor their boats there
  •  Keyhaven Marshes is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
    -Part of the salt marsh is also a National Nature Reserve - so is carefully monitered 
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Comments

Elana Newgrosh

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thanks Ne;)

Né M

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Elana Newgrosh wrote:

thanks Ne;)

You're welcome L'elana :)

Kayathrie

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Thank you very much !

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