SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds

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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds
Lecture 1
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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds

• Hard rock cliffs
• Resistant bedrock (geology)
• Also, Soft rock cliffs
• Unconsolidated material (glacial materials)
• Hard rock stable, steep
• Soft rock unstable, highly erodable
• Hard rock ledges, thin soils
• Soft rock slippage, thicker soils

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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds

• Hard rock change is slow over time
• Soft rock sudden, often large-scale change due
  to mass movement
• Cross-sections of Sea cliffs vary dependent on
  nature and resistance of the rock, aided by
  jointing and mineral makeup, processes of
  weathering, exposure to wind, rain and sea salt,
  and erosion through undercutting at the base
• Two examples (1) hard rock (2) soft rock

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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds
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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds
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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds
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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds

• Vegetation on Hard rock cliffs depends on slope,
  depth of soil, presence of ledges (terraces),
  exposure to wind, rain and salt spray, as well as
  acidity of soil determined by the parent
  material (rock)
• Exposure to oceanic swell, onshore winds, and
  storms leads to maritime vegetation
• Inland vegetation changes because more sheltered
  e.g. from salt spray
• In less exposed areas then dependent on acid or
  alkaline rocks/soils then may get acid grasslands
  and heath versus calcareous grasslands (chalk and
  other limestones)
• Less exposed cliffs may have scrub and woodland
  communities
• Often vegetation transitions (e.g. due to salt
  spray)
• If isolated (and free of human activity) then
  endemic species (intolerant of competition) e.g.
  Limonium spp.

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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds

• Dependent on the degree of slope movement then
  may or may not have vegetation or animal life
• In very open areas then may be invertebrate life
• Where less movement then may have woodland, scrub
  and grassland
• Landslips lead to exposed soil/rock
• Succession of plants if fairly stable for a
  period of time
• Ephemeral plants and invertebrates
• Major cliff falls can lead to woodland if stable

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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds

• Exposure to wind, salt spray is a major
  determinant of vegetation communities
• Also, climatic effects
• Vegetation contains plants (and animals) that are
  mostly confined to coastal fringe
• Salt tolerant Sedum rosea, Festuca rubra,
  Armeria maritima, Silene uniflora
• Halophytes Crithmum maritimum, Limonium
  binervosum, Salicornia spp
• May also be some invasive species e.g.
  Carpobrotus edulis
• Etc
• See handout
• See http//www.habitas.org.uk/

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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds
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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds

• Sea Cliffs provide breeding and nesting for many
  birds
• Location e.g. ledges/burrows provide food source
  and protection
• Guillemot (Uria aalge)
• Razorbill (Alca torda)
• Kittiwake (Rissa trydactyla)
• Shearwater (e.g. Manx Shearwater Puffinus)
• Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
• Etc
• See http//www.birdguides.com/

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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds
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SeaCliffs, Vegetation, and Birds
Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis Invertebrates
Brown-banded carder bee Bombus humilis Weevil
Cathormiocerus brittanicus Light feathered rustic
moth Agrotis cinerea Spiders e.g. Episinus
maculipes
Good Source of Information
http//www.english-nature.org.uk/livingwiththesea/
project_details/good_practice_guide/Home.htm