What is the pH of the soil (sand) on embryo dunes?
Very high - alkaline.
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What is the salinity of the soil at an embryo dune?
High salinity & lack of fresh water.
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What vegetation thrives on embryo dunes?
High pH limits plant growth only to 'pioneer species' which are halophytic & have long roots to reach the water table which help to stabilise the embryo dune. An example is 'saltwort'.
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How does vegetation affect the soil's pH on an embryo dune?
Vegetation decreases the soil's pH. Still alkaline but is more tolerable to a wider range of plants/more hospitable to life.
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What vegetation thrives on foredunes/yellow dunes?
Marram Grass (another pioneer plant). Grows tall very quickly, so traps a lot of sand without burying itself, allowing the foredune to grow bigger.
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How does the death of plant life on yellow dunes affect the soil's pH?
When the plants die, they form a layer of humus (an organic layer of soil that is somewhat acidic). This lowers the pH.
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What is the soil like on a grey dune?
It is more stable, becomes a 'fixed dune'.
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What vegetation thrives on grey dunes?
New plant species develop, although marram grass will still prevail.
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What are dune slacks?
Very large depressions in sand dunes, often deep enough to expose the water table.
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How do dune slacks affect vegetation?
Fresh water exposed at the surface means that new types of vegetation can grow e.g. reeds & rushes.
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How do grey dunes affect dune slacks?
Humus on the grey dune is blown into the dune slack, making it more hospitable to life.
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What is the climax?
Marks the end of the sand dune succession.
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What is the pH like at the climax?
More acidic due to the thick layer of humus developing. Allows vegetation like shrubs & trees to grow.
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What does the climax often develop into?
A forest.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What is the pH of the soil (sand) on embryo dunes?
Back
Very high - alkaline.
Card 3
Front
What is the salinity of the soil at an embryo dune?
Back
Card 4
Front
What vegetation thrives on embryo dunes?
Back
Card 5
Front
How does vegetation affect the soil's pH on an embryo dune?
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