The coastal lagoons of Britain: An overview and conservation appraisal
In: Biological Conservation. Elsevier: Barking. ISSN 0006-3207; e-ISSN 1873-2917, meer
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British Isles
Fauna
Species diversity
Water bodies > Lagoons
Water bodies > Lagoons > Coastal lagoons
British Isles [Marine Regions]
Marien/Kust |
| Abstract |
Britain possesses a total of 41 remaining coastal lagoon sites, many former lagoons having disappeared as a result of natural causes (including evolution into freshwater lakes) and human interference. All British lagoons are isolated behind barriers of shingle (with or without admixture of sand) and most received sea-water influx only by percolation through, or occasional overtopping of, this shingle. As such, they are of unusual ‘North Atlantic’ physiographic types from a global viewpoint. Their macrofaunal species richness varies with lagoonal salinity and area (although these account for only 21% of the variation), whilst the number of specialist lagoonal species within any given system is directly related to total species richness.A comparative site assessment, leading to identification of the nationally most important lagoonal systems, is described. |
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