Studland Sand Dune Succession

1
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• The field work is carried out from the beach
  inland, crossing the dunes at right angles.
• The transect line is sighted using surveying
  poles and the tape measure marks the line of
  transect.

2
Studland Sand Dunes

• Field Work Techniques

3
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• The gradometer is used to measure the slope angle
  of every metre along the transect line.
• The instrument is levelled using the attached
  spirit level and the slope angle is read off
  using the attached protractor.

4
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• The quadrat is a 50cm x 50cm square.
• The quadrat is placed alongside the tape every 5
  metres this is called a systematic sample as it
  is done at regular intervals
• This is at the start of the survey notice the
  high proportion of bare sand.

5
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• At each sample point the vegetation is identified
  with reference to a plant identification book.
• Each plant species is noted and the Domin scale
  is used to give the percentage cover of each
  species.

6
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• The tape measure marks the transect line as it
  crosses the first ridge which is dominated by
  marram grass.
• The soils are immature, being mainly composed of
  sand.

7
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• The transect has crossed the first ridge of
  marram grass and, on its landward side, heather
  becomes the dominant species.
• The field-work equipment, namely the sighting
  poles, tape, gradometer and quadrat, can be
  clearly seen.

8
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• Between the first and second dune ridges is the
  slack.
• The slack is much lower than the dune ridges and
  the water table may reach the surface.
• The damper conditions give rise to a cover of
  shrubs and small trees.

9
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• The damper conditions of the slacks give rise to
  a distinctive flora.
• The honeydew is a special plant found under these
  conditions.
• Tiny insects are trapped by the sticky leaves and
  the plant feeds on these insects.

10
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• The transect line has crossed the first ridge and
  slack, the latter shown by the shrubs, and is
  about to ascend the second dune ridge.
• Soil samples are also collected systematically
  along the transect line.

11
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• Soil samples are taken every 20 metres along the
  line of transect.
• A trowel is used to dig out the soil from 100 mm
  below the surface.
• The samples are labelled and sealed in plastic
  bags to preserve the water content of the soil.
• This sample is almost pure sand.

12
Studland Sand Dune Succession

• In the foreground is the top of the second dune,
  characterised by heather and a little marram
  grass.
• Beyond the second ridge the dune slopes steeply
  down to the second slack.
• Here there is a dense vegetation of trees and
  shrubs.