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sandy coastal ecosystem

A sandy beach or shore is really just a pile of loose sand that is constantly being changed as the waves wash against it. A build up of sand is stored in sand dunes. The shore is not exactly an easy place to live, and the dunes provide a home for many living things.

This sandy ecosystem is windy and salty, and there isn't much freshwater about. Because the sandy ecosystem is a tough place for plants and animals to grow, it is a less complex ecosystem than an estuary. This means that there are fewer types of plants and animals living there. Plants such as Pingao, Sand Fescue and Spinifex have special roots that hold them into the sand - they have probably had to adapt so they can stay in this sandy ecosystem. Animals that make up thenecosystem of a sandy shore include pipis, tuatara, sandhopper and a range of birds.