Sandy+Beach

**__History:__ **

**In 1999, a powerful hurricane struck the coasts of Curacao, and in its wake, the coral reefs in Porto Marie were completely destroyed. The organisms, which once flourished in this susceptible area, fled into the open ocean, or were killed during the storm. The once diverse ecosystem turned into rubble, which was washed into the coasts of the Porto Marie beach. This led to the implementation of the Reef Ball program, which aimed to re-establish the once prosperous ecosystem. This consisted in the construction of 300 concrete “Reef Balls” which would act as a new coral reef. The organisms that once were found in the area would re-establish their previous habitats, and coral would once again appear in the area. Unfortunately, in 2006 a tropical depression hit Porto Marie once again, and although it didn’t eliminate the reef completely as last time, it still hindered the progress of this ecosystem. ** **__History:__ **

**In 1999, a powerful hurricane struck the coasts of Curacao, and in its wake, the coral reefs in Porto Marie were completely destroyed. The organisms, which once flourished in this susceptible area, fled into the open ocean, or were killed during the storm. The once diverse ecosystem turned into rubble, which was washed into the coasts of the Porto Marie beach. This led to the implementation of the Reef Ball program, which aimed to re-establish the once prosperous ecosystem. This consisted in the construction of 300 concrete “Reef Balls” which would act as a new coral reef. The organisms that once were found in the area would re-establish their previous habitats, and coral would once again appear in the area. Unfortunately, in 2006 a tropical depression hit Porto Marie once again, and although it didn’t eliminate the reef completely as last time, it still hindered the progress of this ecosystem. **

**__Characteristics:__ ** **The elements that mostly characterize these ecosystems are the sediment composition and how exposed it is to open waters. The sediment composition is important when identifying the biodiversity of the area. Organisms are usually better protected in beaches with fine sand, due to the fact that it gives them a burrowing option. The exposure to open waters can also have a great effect on the ecosystem. A greater exposure to open waters would increase the biodiversity of fauna, but the stronger the wave, the deeper the slope. It is also important to note the oxygenation of these ecosystems. Due to the constant wave action, the ecosystem is constantly oxygenated, maintaining enough dissolved oxygen for any organism, however problems may arise when there is fine sand and low water levels. **

**__As an Ecosystem:__ **

**Sandy Beaches are ecosystems that allow optimum amounts of fauna, but few of flora. It is difficult for plants to attach themselves to the bottom, which doesn’t allow proper nutrient extraction from the ground. Instead, corals are the only organisms that are able to attach themselves to the sandy bottom. The type of sand also affects the types of organisms found in the beaches. Fine sand would encourage bottom feeders and fish that prefer to be hidden in the ocean floor. In any type of beach, regardless of exposure to the ocean or sediment, crustaceans and zooplankton can be found. They are the main source of food for most organisms in this ecosystem, and they are usually found in great numbers. Due to the strong ocean currents, stranded algae could also be a viable food source for the various fish living in the ecosystem. **

**__Susceptibility:__ **

**As what has occurred in Porto Marie, these ecosystems are highly susceptible to most natural factors such as hurricanes, but human influence are also damaging. Due to the low depth and constant wave activity in sandy beaches, the ecosystem are more susceptible than most. In Porto Marie for instance, when its corals were completely destroyed by natural occurrences in 1999 and 2006. Sandy beaches are also susceptible to any radical change in temperature or salinity. The organisms found in this area are usually very delicate, and vulnerable to the slightest changes. Beaches with fine sand may have a greater advantage to those with rough sand, due to the fact that fish may protect themselves by burrowing. However, humans have recently proven that they are the greatest threat to this ecosystem’s stability. In Porto Marie, industries nearby have polluted nearby waters, whose currents transport the pollution to the beach. The already vulnerable fish aren’t able to adapt in time to this new environment and then proceed to die. Global Warming would also cause irreparable damage to this environment. The increase in temperature and the change of the water’s salinity would also destroy the organisms living in this susceptible ecosystem. **





**__Citations:__ **

**Schlacher, Thomas A. "Sandy Beach Ecosystems: Key Features, Sampling Issues, Management Challenges and Climate Change Impacts." Web. . **

**Defeo, Omar. "Threats to Sandy Beach Ecosystems: A Review." Web. . **

** Schlacher, Thomas A. Sandy Beaches at the Brink. Web. <http://www.cccqld.org.au/docs/schlacher1.pdf <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 21px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">>. **