The Characteristics of a Sandy Shore at Pallarenda Beach, Townsville, North Queensland :: essays research papers fc

The characteristics of a sandy shore at Pallarenda shore, Townsville, North Queensland.IntroductionThe sandy shores of beaches can be considered as a very harsh environs to live in (Ted Klenk, 1999). Survival in such a habitat requires an organism to withstand strong wave and authoritative action, tidal rise and fall, wonky substrate, heavy predation and wide variations in salinity and temperature (The Otter Island Project). Any organism found in this type of harsh environment is specialized and highly adapted (The Otter Island Project). Fine, sandy beaches often occur in areas with light wave action (Californias Ocean Resources, 1995). While a more loose sand is found with heavy wave action (Californias Ocean Resources, 1995). The slope gradient of a beach also helps determine the grain size of the posit (Bascom, 1959). The steeper a beach is, the larger the sand particles (Ted Klenk, 1999). The pee retention of coarse sand is quite economic crisis allowing temperatures to rise easily at low tide (MB2050 lecture notes). Any organisms on a coarse particle beach will not only have to deal with the very unstable substrate but also the real danger of desiccation (MB2050 lecture notes).Fine sediment areas do not have much water pitiful through the particles (MB2050 lecture notes). Therefore any oxygen available is used up quickly by burrowing organisms (MB2050 lecture notes). There comes a point under the substrate where there is insufficient oxygen for organisms to respire, this is called the anoxic layer (MB2050 lecture notes). The anoxic layer is therefore much deeper under coarse sediments then graceful (MB2050 lecture notes).The fish community of a surf zone is largely controlled by three factors (Robertson & Lenanton, 1984). The form of primary production input to the surf zone, the water movement pattern, and the geomorphology of the sandy beach (Robertson & Lenanton, 1984). Fish such as anchovies, herrings and mullets often inhabits surf zones ar ound the world (The Otter Island Project).The aims of this experiment were to examine physical features and sediment-related characteristics of Pallarenda beach and the influence of these characteristics on the occurrence and distribution of the intertidal taxa. This experiment also aimed to describe the fauna in the surf zone region of Pallarenda beach.Materials and Methods The beach study during this experiment was Pallarenda Beach just North of the city of Townsville in North Queensland. The co-ordinates of the location were 19o11.8S, 146o46.6E. The beach experiences a tropical climate, the experiment was carried out on the fourth of March in the year 2000 after much rainfall.