The Fauna of Sand and Mud Banks Near the Mouth of the Exe Estuary

Abstract

Erosion of Dawlish Warren, at the mouth of the Exe Estuary has resulted in a redistribution of sand, which has come to lie in close proximity to certain of the original mud banks.Quantitative collections of the macrofauna were made along a traverse passing from the newly deposited sand to the old mud bank, stations all being at about half-tide level.Measurements of salinity, temperature, pH, currents and wave action show that these are similar for all stations. Thus it has been possible to observe the distribution of the fauna in relation to the type of soil without the usual complications due to differences in other factors.