Plant succession describes the changes in vegetation that develop through time in a particular habitat.

describe and explain the lant succession for either a derelict urban or a sand dune habitat. youy should make reference to specific plants. 12 marks

The condtions at the foreshore are very exposed. It is very windy, dry,due to the free draining nature of sand, salty, and has little humus (provided by stranded sea weed).

The Embryo dunes is where pioneer plants thrive. For example saltwort, which have waxy leaves to help to retain moisture, and have long deep tap roots to get water from the deep water table. The fore dunes follow in the succession and have scattered plants found also on the embryo dunes. Couch grass is another plant that is found here, it have leaves which protesrate and loves modest burial of windblown sands. Yellow dunes are mobile and fully exposed. Marram grass dominates here, as it thrives in burial of windblown sands. This plant posses long tap roots to reach the water table, and rhizomes which help to stabilise the dunes. In between dunes, dune slacks are found. The conditions here are wet due to interception of the water table. plants such as reeds, rushes and creeping willow are found here. Grey dunes are fixed as are grey in colour due to the mixture of soil(humus) and sand. there is almost complete ground cover with some visible sand. Plants such as buckthorn and restharrow are found here, as previous plants have provided nutrients and favourable conditions for these plants. Climax vegetation is the final stage in the plant succession, which has stable, unchanging conditions. woodland and heathland are found here depending on the type of sand conditions at the beginning.

testing..... 

Biospheres are very important to the earth.