Bioerosion of Rocky Carbonate Coastlines on Andros Island, Bahamas

Erosion of rocky carbonate coastlines has been measured and described at intertidal and supra-tidal locations on Andros Island, Bahamas. Rates of intertidal erosion vary from 1.8 to 2.6 m/ 1000 years. Supratidal erosion is measured at 0.4 m/1000 years. Intertidal erosion creates terraces and nips wh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of coastal research 1988, Vol.4 (3), p.381-394
Main Authors: DONN, T. F, BOARDMAN, M. R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Carbonates
Coasts
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Erosion
Exact sciences and technology
Geomorphology, landform evolution
Keys
Lagoons
Sea level
Sediments
Sponges
Surficial geology
Terraces
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Summary:Erosion of rocky carbonate coastlines has been measured and described at intertidal and supra-tidal locations on Andros Island, Bahamas. Rates of intertidal erosion vary from 1.8 to 2.6 m/ 1000 years. Supratidal erosion is measured at 0.4 m/1000 years. Intertidal erosion creates terraces and nips which lie near low-tide level. The width of the terraces, combined with the erosion rates, suggests that sea level has been within 0.5 meters of present level for the past 1400 to 3700 years. Degradation of this coastline results in coastal retreat and an annual sediment production of 2.98 kg/m2which accounts for less than 1 percent of the nearby lagoon sediment. Erosion occurs in an irregular pattern with no preferential lowering of pinnacles or pits. The activity of organisms (endolithic algae, chitons, snails, limpets, barnacles and sponges) is sufficient to account for the majority of the erosion.
ISSN:0749-0208
1551-5036