Aquatic ecology and Biodiversity

Practical 10 - Study of muddy shore habitat and organisms

Experiment No. 10
Date: Date & Time of Visit:
Place of Visit: Name of the Teacher:
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Muddy shore habitats are areas of mud and sandy mud exposed between the extreme-high-tide and extreme low-tide marks. Mud flats form from the deposition of mud in sheltered tidal water, particularly in estuaries where there is a large sediment supply.
Characteristics of muddy shores and adaptations
Soil particles range from fine sand to silt, and are often compacted into clay. Drainage is poor and anaerobic conditions exist just below the sediment Surface.the surface sediment is mobile in moderate waves due to exposure to wave action related to wind. Vast numbers of a few species of infauna depend on a diet of organic detritus. Meritrix, Corophium sp, worms etc. These animal populations support large groups of migrating shore birds during the late summer. Migratory fish also visit to feed on the benthic (e.g., Corophium) and epibenthic species (e.g., Neomysis, Mysis etc.).
Primary production is limited to diatoms and other microscopic and filamentous algae and grass. The detritus and associated bacteria are consumed by large populations of bivalve molluscs, amphipods and polychaetes. These in turn eaten by carnivores, and particularly by migratory shore birds.
Morphology

• Type of soil
• Total Area
• Tidal condition / depth
• Marginal Vegetation

Water Characteristics
Physical: Temperature------------,Colour / Odour-------------------- Turbidity-------------
Chemical: pH------------- DO-------------------------- Salinity--------------------------------
Muddy Shore communities

• Plants
• Bivalves
• Gastropods
• Worms
• Crustaceans

Species Diversity Associates:
Inferences: