Which term refers to the shaping of coastlines and ecosystems through natural processes?

The term that pertains to the shaping of coastlines and ecosystems through natural processes is "coastal processes." This concept encompasses a variety of natural phenomena, such as wave action, tides, sediment transport, erosion, and deposition, all of which play a significant role in forming and modifying coastal landscapes. Over time, these processes influence not only the physical geography of coastlines but also the ecological communities that inhabit them.

Coastal processes are essential in understanding how shorelines change and adapt to environmental conditions, highlighting the dynamic nature of coastal environments. They play a crucial role in shaping ecosystems, determining habitat types, and influencing species distributions, thus impacting biodiversity and ecological health.

Other terms listed do not directly refer to the shaping of coastlines and ecosystems through natural processes. Urbanization relates to the growth and development of urban areas, ecosystem dynamics generally focus on the interactions within ecosystems rather than the shaping of coastlines specifically, and land reclamation refers to the process of creating new land from oceans or riverbeds, which is often a human-driven alteration of the natural landscape rather than a natural process.