100 Ecology and Applied Environmental Science
Biodiversity, especially that of fauna, is high and their general ecological
role is important. They constitute significant regulators of the carbon and
phosphorus cycles, as well as of the nitrogen cycle, because they significantly
contribute to denitrification. They play a significant role in the hydrological
cycle because they contribute to the supply of underground water-bearing
formations and reduce the impacts of floods. Many studies show that in
the long run, wetlands have a greater economic value if they remain in their
natural state than if they are drained or turned over to other uses.
5.4 coaStal zonES
Coastal zones, which include the continental shelf down to a depth of about
200 m and the maritime plains with an altitude less than 200 m, constitute
about 8% of the Earth’s surface. The biological wealth of the oceans is
mainly concentrated in the coastal areas where very productive ecosystems,
such as wetlands, submarine meadows and coral reefs, meet. Eighty percent of the global fishing production comes from the coastal zones, while
60% of the world’s population lives in places that are less than 60 km
distance from the coast.
5.4.1 characteristics of coastal Ecosystems
In a very general ecological view, the coast is included in the wider zone
of the lithosphere’s contact with the hydrosphere and is a product of their
everlasting antagonistic action that is formed through their interaction in
the course of time. The coastal zone is an expression of the dynamic equilibrium between sediments’ supply by the lithosphere and their arrangement (removal or accumulation) by the hydrosphere by the action of waves
and currents, factors that are to a great extent dependent on the atmosphere. Also, the biosphere’s influence (biogenic coasts, bioerosion etc.) in
the formation of the coastal zone is not negligible. Man’s action in the
coastal space by various works is often extremely important; those works,
in combination with the natural characteristics of every area, create a new,
anthropogenic, dynamic equilibrium.
During geological eras, the fall or rise of the sea surface (e.g. during
glacial or interglacial periods) as well as the perpendicular movements of
Earth’s solid crust (due to tectonism or other geological causes) had as a
result the emersion or submersion of the coasts. The form of coasts changes
continuously as the liquid element adapts to the shape imposed to it by
the continuous continental drift. This drift (explained by the theory of
lithospheric plates), starting from a unified continent (Pangaea) and a unified sea (Panthalassa) led to the current form of the global coastline. From
a geological point of view, today’s coasts are recent formations because
Biodiversity, especially that of fauna, is high and their general ecological
role is important. They constitute significant regulators of the carbon and
phosphorus cycles, as well as of the nitrogen cycle, because they significantly
contribute to denitrification. They play a significant role in the hydrological
cycle because they contribute to the supply of underground water-bearing
formations and reduce the impacts of floods. Many studies show that in
the long run, wetlands have a greater economic value if they remain in their
natural state than if they are drained or turned over to other uses.
5.4 coaStal zonES
Coastal zones, which include the continental shelf down to a depth of about
200 m and the maritime plains with an altitude less than 200 m, constitute
about 8% of the Earth’s surface. The biological wealth of the oceans is
mainly concentrated in the coastal areas where very productive ecosystems,
such as wetlands, submarine meadows and coral reefs, meet. Eighty percent of the global fishing production comes from the coastal zones, while
60% of the world’s population lives in places that are less than 60 km
distance from the coast.
5.4.1 characteristics of coastal Ecosystems
In a very general ecological view, the coast is included in the wider zone
of the lithosphere’s contact with the hydrosphere and is a product of their
everlasting antagonistic action that is formed through their interaction in
the course of time. The coastal zone is an expression of the dynamic equilibrium between sediments’ supply by the lithosphere and their arrangement (removal or accumulation) by the hydrosphere by the action of waves
and currents, factors that are to a great extent dependent on the atmosphere. Also, the biosphere’s influence (biogenic coasts, bioerosion etc.) in
the formation of the coastal zone is not negligible. Man’s action in the
coastal space by various works is often extremely important; those works,
in combination with the natural characteristics of every area, create a new,
anthropogenic, dynamic equilibrium.
During geological eras, the fall or rise of the sea surface (e.g. during
glacial or interglacial periods) as well as the perpendicular movements of
Earth’s solid crust (due to tectonism or other geological causes) had as a
result the emersion or submersion of the coasts. The form of coasts changes
continuously as the liquid element adapts to the shape imposed to it by
the continuous continental drift. This drift (explained by the theory of
lithospheric plates), starting from a unified continent (Pangaea) and a unified sea (Panthalassa) led to the current form of the global coastline. From
a geological point of view, today’s coasts are recent formations because