Grain size distribution of a mesotidal beach with potential implications for ghost crab ecology
Presentation Type
Event
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Bradley Craig
Other Mentors
Additional Mentor: Eric Rosch, Marine Science
Major
Marine Science
Minor
Coastal Geology
Presentation Abstract
Geological depositional processes influence grain size, shape, and distribution. A preliminary study created a high-resolution surface sediment map of a beach environment at Waties Island. Dominant grain sizes were identified via sieving sediment samples from the backshore, foreshore, and nearshore beach zones. Nearshore and foreshore zones contained coarse-grained sand, but additionally had a substantial fine grain component. The sizes present in all three beach zones were on average fine-grained sand. Hurricane Florence may have brought fine grained surface sediment from the dune base through all three zones. An ongoing study is investigating the rebuilding of Waties Island's shoreline and tracking changes to the sediment distribution, in addition to examining the relationship between grain size and ghost crab, Ocypode quadrata, burrow distribution and depth. Ghost crab burrows have been shown to be related to the health of the population and are a standard bioindicator of the beach ecosystem in general.
Course
MSCI 399 Geo
External Presentation
1
Location
Lib Jackson Student Union, Atrium
Start Date
17-4-2019 4:30 PM
End Date
17-4-2019 4:50 PM
Disciplines
Oceanography
Recommended Citation
Hartley, Brittany, "Grain size distribution of a mesotidal beach with potential implications for ghost crab ecology" (2019). Undergraduate Research Competition. 21.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2019/poster/21
Grain size distribution of a mesotidal beach with potential implications for ghost crab ecology
Lib Jackson Student Union, Atrium
Geological depositional processes influence grain size, shape, and distribution. A preliminary study created a high-resolution surface sediment map of a beach environment at Waties Island. Dominant grain sizes were identified via sieving sediment samples from the backshore, foreshore, and nearshore beach zones. Nearshore and foreshore zones contained coarse-grained sand, but additionally had a substantial fine grain component. The sizes present in all three beach zones were on average fine-grained sand. Hurricane Florence may have brought fine grained surface sediment from the dune base through all three zones. An ongoing study is investigating the rebuilding of Waties Island's shoreline and tracking changes to the sediment distribution, in addition to examining the relationship between grain size and ghost crab, Ocypode quadrata, burrow distribution and depth. Ghost crab burrows have been shown to be related to the health of the population and are a standard bioindicator of the beach ecosystem in general.