Habitat dynamics at the catchment – coast interface: contributions from ELOISE

Abstract

This paper summarises contributions made by the ELOISE cluster of research projects to our understanding of European coastal habitat dynamics. 'Habitat' is used as the key concept defining Europe's coastal ecosystems following the European Community, which uses 'habitat' as formal currency in its directives on water and nature use, management and conservation. Eight aggregate habitat categories are identified: cliffs, shingle beaches, and associated kelp beds; dune complexes with freshwater wetlands; salt marsh; sandbanks and mudflats; seagrass beds, lagoons; subtidal sediments, and open sea pelagic. We distinguish between dynamics 'within' and 'between' habitats. The former tend to be coupled to physical forcing. The latter concern transitions from one habitat to another. Both types have been charted for the eight habitat categories.The Drivers -Pressures -State -Impact -Response framework is used to review the possible impact on habitat of foreseen future changes in key drivers and pressures, which would lead to major changes in the state of European coastal ecosystems. Drivers comprise climate change, the increase in built-up area, expansion and intensification of trade, ports and related industry, as well as of fishing, aquaculture and agriculture. Together these would lead to sea level rise and coastal erosion, contamination, eutrophication, and loss of biodiversity, but to different extents in Europe's regional seas. This report concludes with specific recommendations for future European coastal research.

Socio-economic Impacts—Coastal Management and Governance

“…Development of the coastal zone was accompanied in the past by reclamation and armouring with hard coastal defences, narrowing the active coastal zone (Nicholls and Klein 2005;Vermaat and Gilbert 2006). This process was identified as 'coastal squeeze'.…”

Changes in quantitative parameters of active wind dunes on the south-east Baltic Sea coast during the last decade (Curonian Spit, Lithuania)

“…Com pared with many other forms of de fence, dunes are less vi su ally in tru sive, have greater value for wild life and rec reation, and are able to re spond more readily to changes in en viron men tal forc ing fac tors (e.g., cli mate and sea level changes, sed i ment sup ply con di tions; Tsoar and MÝller, 1986;Battiau-Queney et al, 2001;Pye et al, 2007;Battiau-Queney, 2015). Their dy nam ics are un der stood in other works as oc curring "within" and "be tween" hab i tats (Vermaat and Gilbert, 2006). The is sue of dune dy nam ics in the Bal tic re gion has received less at ten tion than dune mor phol ogy, hab i tats and manage ment (Miszalski, 1973;£abuz, 2004;Olšauskas, 2009;Wojtanowicz, 2009;£abuz et al, 2013).…”