Exposed sandy beaches as semi-closed ecosystems |
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| Authors: | Anton McLachlan |
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| Institution: | Zoology Department, University of Port Elizabeth, PO Box 1600, Port Elizabeth, Republic of South Africa |
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| Abstract: | On the basis of various lines of evidence, mostly coming from exposed sandy beaches in Southern Africa, it is postulated that under certain conditions high energy sandy beaches and their adjacent surf zones may function as viable ecosystems. Where surf zones are reasonably broad and shallow, cellular circulation patterns predominate and these tend to retain nutrients generated by the macrofauna and interstitial fauna of the beach. These nutrients may then cause blooms of surf zone phytoplankton which in turn serve as food for macrofauna filter feeders. With the perimeter of the circulation cells of the surf zone forming its marine boundary, the beach and surf zone may together be considered an ecosystem with surf phytoplankton the primary producers, beach macrofauna the consumers and interstitial fauna the decomposers. |
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