Editing Cuspate foreland

Cuspate forelands can form both along coastlines and along lakeshores. Those formed along coastlines can be in the lee of an offshore island, along a coastline that has no islands in the vicinity, or at a stream mouth where disposition occurs.<ref name="Bird, 2008 ">Bird, E., 2008 ''Coastal geomorphology: an introduction.'' 2nd ed. England: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.</ref>

===Formation in narrow straits or on open coastlines===

===Formation along lakeshores===

As well as forming along coastlines, cuspate forelands can also form along lake shores, although less is known about this type of cuspate foreland. This type of cuspate foreland includes [[Point Pelee]] along the shoreline of Lake Erie, and those found along the shoreline of Lake Victoria in Australia. There are two theories with regard to the formation of Point Pelee. Firstly, it is thought that Point Pelee has formed from depositional processes.<ref name="Trenhaile, 2000">Trenhaile, A. S., 2000. Point Pelee: a large cuspate foreland on Lake Erie. ''Canadian Geographer, '' 44(2), pp. 191–195.</ref> Alternatively, it is suggested that Point Pelee is a relic of a past feature that has eroded over time.<ref name="Trenhaile, 2000"/> This gap in knowledge provides the opportunity for further research. It is likely that Point Pelee is migrating westwards since accretion is occurring on the western side, and erosion is occurring on the eastern side.<ref name="Trenhaile, 2000"/> Lake Victoria in Australia also has a number of cuspate forelands. Point Scott is a cuspate foreland along this lakeshore that has formed from the gradual accumulation of sand and gravel.<ref name="Department of Primary Industries, 2008">Department of Primary Industries [http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/egregn.nsf/pages/eg_lf_sites_significance_gl15 Point Scott – Raymond Island], ''Department of Primary Industries, 2008. Accessed 31 March 2011.</ref>

==Features==

Cuspate forelands can be separated into three distinct areas: the central nose or apex, and two marginal wings.<ref name="Wright, 1988"/> The apex usually has ridges that run parallel to the converging shorelines.<ref name="Davis and FitzGerald, 2004"/> Cuspate forelands can extend up to 5&nbsp;km from the shoreline, and an underwater shoal may extend much further, up to 15&nbsp;km from the exposed apex.<ref name="McNinch and Luettich, 2000 "/> Located between the mainland and the foreland are often [[lagoons]] or marshy areas.<ref name="Davis and FitzGerald, 2004"/> In some areas, such as along the North Carolina coastline, a series of cuspate forelands may form at least 100&nbsp;km apart.<ref name="Ashton et al 2001"/> In areas that have a large amount of shingle, such as the cuspate foreland at Dungeness, it is also common for a fresh [[water table]] to be present.<ref name="Randall, 2000"/>

==Movement==

If there is an offshore [[sandbank]] present, the position of the cuspate foreland is usually related to its position.<ref name="Craig-Smith, 2005"/> If there is a change in the position of the sandbank, the position of the cuspate foreland typically follows.<ref name="Craig-Smith, 2005"/> Not only does the sandbank act like an island since it causes waves to refract around it, but it also provides a source of sediment.<ref name="Craig-Smith, 2005"/> As sand erodes from the sandbank, it is pushed towards the coastline, contributing to the formation of the cuspate foreland as the sandbank migrates along the coast.<ref name="Craig-Smith, 2005"/> This often occurs in the opposite direction to longshore drift.<ref name="Craig-Smith, 2005"/>

In the case of a cuspate foreland that has formed close to an island, it is possible for it to extend right up to the island, forming a [[tombolo]].<ref name="Craig-Smith, 2005"/> Depending on the physical conditions such as storms, the feature can alternate between a cuspate foreland and a tombolo.<ref name="Craig-Smith, 2005"/> [[Gabo Island]] in South Australia is an example of where this occurs.<ref name="Craig-Smith, 2005"/>

==Succession==

After the formation of the cuspate foreland into its distinctive triangular shape, it will start to be colonised by [[pioneer species]] that are hardy and tough enough to survive in the environment. These pioneer species secure the cuspate foreland and allow a greater amount of sediment to further secure it. Colonization and [[Ecological succession|succession]] of vegetation is dependent on a number of factors. Firstly, if the shingle is too coarse, the amount of fine sediment that can remain between the spaces is reduced, and the likelihood that seeds will germinate and grow upwards is low.<ref name="Randall, 2000">Randall, R. E., 2004. Management of coastal vegetated shingle in the United Kingdom. ''Journal of Coastal Conservation'', 10, pp. 159–168.</ref> Seeds will also fail to germinate and grow if there is insufficient retention of fresh water.<ref name="Randall, 2000"/> Stable cuspate forelands that are composed of shingle often have vegetation above the high tide line.<ref name="Randall, 2000"/> As vegetation is established, mites and collembolans break down plant matter such as roots, resulting in the accumulation of organic matter.<ref name="Randall, 2000"/> Plants also cause the soil to develop and water retention to increase, therefore providing a habitat where more plants can grow.<ref name="Randall, 2000"/> Vegetation above the high tide line is common on cuspate forelands that are stable and composed of shingle.<ref name="Randall, 2000"/>

==Biological habitat==