THE ECOLOGY OF THE SANDY ESTUARIES OF NORTH DEVON AND CARMARTHEN BAY

The estuaries of the Taf, Tywi, Gwendraeth and Loughor (Carmarthen Bay , South Wales), and the Taw and Torridge (North Devon) were surveyed d uring the spring and summer of 1988, as part of a four year study of h arbours, rias and estuaries in southern Britain commissioned by the Na ture Conservancy Council. The aims of these surveys were to describe t he major marine habitats and communities present in each estuary, and to assess their nature conservation importance. This paper outlines th e results of these surveys, concentrating on the many environmental si milarities between the six estuaries.