Seaford beach powerpoint

Seaford Beach

CHEN GUANDA STEFANIE TALARICO JOHNNY WANG ERIN WILKIE

Group 24 – 3

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Objectives Climate Fore Dunes: Johnny Wang Second Dunes: Chen Guanda Kananook Creek: Erin Wilkie Seaford Wetlands: Stefanie Talarico References

Objectives  Obtain

environmental data for the following locations: fore dunes, second dunes, Kananook Creek, and Seaford Wetlands.  F u r t h e r o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e environmental systems and attributes of the Seaford Beach area.  Compare this data to expected results in the Background Research report.  Discuss the differences and similarities between the four locations during the site visit.

Climate  Temperate

climate  Annual average rainfall of 719mm (Department of Sustainability and Environment 2012)  During field visit strong Easterly winds were experienced

Johnny Wang

Site 1 – Fore dunes

Location  Eastings: 0335574  Northings: 5780942  Approx. 5-7m rise along Seaford Beach  Directly behind the Fore Dunes and in front of the main road (Napean Highway) Landscape  Covered by dense shrubs and grasses  Stable dunes  Similar to what was expected in background research report

Elevation of Seaford Source: Victorian Resources Online 2011

Man-made boundary/fencing Tall grasses

Sand, sediments, shells, loose vegetation Beach/ocean

Human Impacts  Timber

seating

 Peer  Dune-fencing  Community

centre  Direction signs  Litter along the beach  Man-planted vegetation  Brick walk-way

Ecology  The fore dune mainly consists of Coastal scrubs grasslands & Woodlands.  Even though sand wouldn’t be the best type of soil for vegetation as it allows moisture to evaporate quickly.

However, the shrubs and grasses on the dunes appear to be growing quite well because of the consistent rainfall during the year.  Seagulls  Insects living inside the shrubs  Shells washed up by the waves

Hydrology   



Salinity: 12,0400(µS/cm) Sea water will rise and fall with tides.

Water on the beach sand will then either be absorbed by the soil or evaporated under sunlight.

Rain water will be either absorbed by the roots of the shrubs/soil, or run downwards into the sea.

Geology  Siliceous and calcareous sand. (Dune and beach deposits) – as indicated in the geological map  The sand is also covered by lots of shells and branches that were possibly blown onto the beach from the shrubs at the top of the dunes

Geological map and soil type Source: Department of Primary industries 2013

Chen Guanda

Site 2 – Second Dunes

Fore dunes

Napean Hwy

Second Dunes

Source: Google Earth 2013

Location • Eastings: 335 602 • Northings: 5780 943 • Behind Foredunes, in front of Napean Highway Landscape • Marram grass and Sand Reed grass help stabilize sand • Wind and water movement in the sand • Open/vacant space. Pathways enable walking uses • Adjacent area used for recreational activities

Trees

Man-made boundary Grass and weeds Bush, climbing vegetation

Sand, dirt

Path

Human Impacts  Litter  Fencing, just like the boundaries seen in Seaford Wetlands (site 4)  Walkways for humans breaking up connections and natural pathways for the organisms

Hydrology  Water draining into water table beneath, eventually getting to ocean  Direct runoff from the land to the ocean  Salinity:

Source: Natural Lecture 16 (Western 2013)

Geology  Sediment continually supplied through aeolian and fluvial processes. Expected from the background research done.  pH of soil = 8  Texture: coarse sand  Structure: granular, massive  Sediments like sand (found on pathways; bottom left) and dirt (found in the other areas; bottom right)

Ecology  Some insects observed during site visit  Coastal birds like Seagulls were seen.

Erin Wilkie

Site 3 – Kananook Creek

Kananook Creek Train line Residential

Location  Eastings: 335 797  Northings: 5780 1081  In Seaford area, parallel to the train tracks.  Begins near Frankston Pier Landscape  Land surrounding creek man made. Currently used as a park designed for families and dog walking  Easy connection to the shops along the Napean Highway and residential areas

Source: Google Earth 2013

Trees

Shrubbery, bush (ground-mid stratum) Man-made attributes: -  Wooden path Additional plants -  Pavement/gravelled areas added by humans

Creek

Hydrology  Creek connected to the ocean, begins just near Frankston Pier.  Runs parallel with the Napean Highway and train tracks.  Movement of water to and from the ocean  Runs from northern Seaford.  Water flow into the creek from the Eel Race Drain.  Flows southward through Seaford  Finally, flowing into Port Phillip (Duggan 2007)  Salinity: 1,100 (µS/cm)

Source: Google Earth 2013

Human Impacts  Addition of pavement and gravel grounds, less water being soaked into soils below surface  Litter

Geology  Seemed to be 2 distinct horizons.  Top layer was dark brown, bottom layer was cream.  Consisted of fine grains. Nature of the parent rock: clayish which was expected from the Background Research report.

Ecology  Over 200 indigenous species  Consists of trees (for example, Manna Gum), shrubs (Beard Heath), climbers and groundcovers (Clematis), and grasses (Kangaroo grass).  Native birds, mammals, fish, aquatic creatures, reptiles, frogs, and insects. For example, Boobook Owl (image to the right)  Many of these species, like the shrubbery, can also be seen in the Fore Dune and Second Dune areas.

Source: (Kananook Creek Association Inc 2013)

Stefanie Talarico

Site 4 – Seaford Wetlands

Location  Eastings: 336 359  Northings: 5781 004  Behind residential houses Landscape  Tall grass and swamps covering the landscape  Man-made boundary

Source: Google Earth 2013

Trees Tall Grasses Swamp/ wetlands Boundaries

Short Grasses Weeds

Human Impacts  Drainage  Putting in electrical wiring  Boundaries - prevent further human destruction in effort of conservation  These conservation efforts are similarly present at all the other stops  Currently a protected area

Hydrology  Kananook Creek (stop 3) can subject the wetlands to tidal inflows  Important in the regional drainage system to receive, retain and diverting storm water and surface run off (Lane et al. 2000)  Drainage system leading to the wetlands has pollution. Negative human impact.

Geology  Soil Profile: - Colour: black and very dark grey - Texture: silty loam, light clay, sandy loam - Structure: crumb, angular blocky, massive - pH: 3.8-4.1 which is mildly acidic (therefore no carbonates present)

Ecology  The variety of aquatic animals in the wetlands and the fauna that habituates on the land around it.  As in the background research report there were a variety of species present, including native species.  For example the Eastern Yellow Robin.

Source: Kleinert 2007

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References

All images, unless cited, were taken by the group.

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Department of Primary Industries 2013, Earth Resources, viewed 7th September 2013, http://dpistore.efirst.com.au/product.asp?pID=368&cID=33

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Department of Sustainability and Environment 2012, Description of the ecological character of the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Ramsar Site, Victorian Government, East Melbourne, viewed October 8th 2013, http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/153338/ Edithvale_Seaford_Wetlands_Ecological_Character_Description.pdf Duggan, D (2007), ‘Overview of Vegetation Condition and Management Issues for Kananook Creek’, Online Information Review, pp. 51-64 Kananook Creek Association Inc 2013, viewed 9 October 2013, http://home.vicnet.net.au/~kananook/public-nature-reserves/flora-and-fauna/ Kleinert, D 2007, Eastern Yellow Robin, David Kleinert Photography, viewed 9th October 2013, http://www.davidkphotography.com/?showimage=618 Lane B. A., Bezuijen M.R., Orsheg C.K., Todd J.A. and Carr G.W. 2000, EdithvaleSeaford Wetlands: Ramsar Management Plan, Unpublished report for Melbourne Waterways and Drainage Group, Ecology Australia Pty Ltd, Fairfield, Victoria Victorian Resources Online 2009, Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, viewed 3rd September 2013, http://vro.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/map_documents.nsf/pages/pp_evc_westernport Western, A. 2013, Natural Environments Lecture 16: The Global Water Cycle, Lecture edn, The University of Melbourne.

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