Arenic

Arenic is an adjective used in geology, ecology, and related sciences to describe things associated with sand or sandy environments. The term, derived from the Latin arena meaning sand or the sandy place, appears in various compound terms that denote habitat, substrate, or organisms adapted to sandy conditions.

In geology and sedimentology, arenic describes sediments that are dominated by sand, with limited clay or silt content, and in soil science, arenic soils are typically well-drained and prone to drying. In ecology, arenic habitats refer to sandy substrates found on beaches, dunes, and shallow marine shores, where many invertebrates and other organisms burrow just beneath the surface. Arenic fauna or arenic organisms are those adapted to living in sand, often with burrowing or shallow-feeding strategies. The related term arenicolous is commonly used to denote organisms that dwell in sand, while arenite is a geological term for sandstone or sand-rich sediment.

In botany and landscape science, arenic vegetation describes plant communities adapted to sandy soils that often exhibit rapid drainage and low nutrient retention. The usage is chiefly technical and appears in scientific literature, field guides, and environmental assessments. While not a common everyday word, arenic terminology is standard in専門ized ecological and geological contexts.