Marine Biology (2+1)

Introduction

Muddy shores are formed along the seashores where there is no or little wave action. These intertidal areas are formed by the deposition of silt from the water flowing into the sea. Muddy shores are also of shifting substratum or very loose in nature and there are many intergradations of particle sizes as in sandy shores. No distinct line can be drawn between the animals of the sandy and muddy shores. Muddy shores are quite common along the sheltered beaches, estuaries and mangroves. The mud is also known for its high organic carbon content and hence serves as a very good food source for many of the mud dwelling organisms. These shores are just opposite to the sandy beaches, which is mainly formed along the beaches of moderate or strong wave action and hence this is just opposite to that of sandy shores both in the nature of substratum as well as in the faunal and floral composition.