Sand movement as a factor in the distribution of plant communities in a coastal dune system

Abstract

The semi-mobile coastal sand dune system E1 Morro de La Mancha at the Gulf of Mexico was studied phytosociologically and ecologically. The floristic gradient resulting from a relev6 ordination was correlated with the amount of sand movement occurring on the site of each relev6, and the topography of the dune.The gradient manifested in the ordination represents the transition from the more mobile parts of the dunes to the more stable ones. It can be interpreted as a progressive stabilization during which sand movement decreases. Chamaecrista ehamaecristoides, Palafoxia lindenii and Croton punctatus were found to inhabit the sites with considerable sand movement. The first species tolerates both erosion and accretion; the other two were only found in sites of sand accumulation. On the other hand grasslands and scrub were found on sites without any sand movement. Sand movement should be considered among the most important factors that affect the distribution of communities in sand dunes.

Recovery and Disaster Prevention Capability of Coastal Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) Forests on the Fukiage Sand Dunes of Southern Kyushu, Japan

“…Because the growth environment of coastal vegetation was poorly developed due to wind-blown salt and sand and strong winds in this section (Moreno-Casasola 1986;Costa et al 1996;Shao et al 1996;Nakashima and Okada 2011;Ohta 2012), there was no variation in the species that grew (Doing 1985;Thomas et al 2010).…”

“…Due to wind-blown sand, strong, salt-laden winds, and desiccation, coastal areas provide poor growth environments for vegetation (Moreno-Casasola 1986;Costa et al 1996;Shao et al 1996;Nakashima and Okada 2011;Ohta 2012). In addition, due to the rise in sea level caused by global warming, the accompanying occurrence of strong winds and tsunamis caused by changes in the coastline and larger typhoons, the growth environment of vegetation in coastal areas have been further threatened (Hayden et al 1995;Ana et al 2012).…”

Substituição local de ammophila arenaria por medicago marina em dunas frontais após pisoteio

“…Ammophila arenaria, espécie dominante e engenheiro do ecossistema em dunas frontais nos sistemas litorais de duna frontal a mobilidade da areia e o soterramento são reconhecidos fatores de adaptação das plantas (Maun, 1998;Kent et al, 2001;Gilbert et al, 2008) e da distribuição espacial das comunidades vegetais (Moreno--Casasola, 1986;Dech e Maun, 2005). na realidade, estes fatores atuam como um poderoso filtro ambiental, ao modificarem a estrutura das comunidades de plantas de forma sensível, eliminando seletivamente as espécies intolerantes ao soterramento, reduzindo a abundância das que lhe são menos tolerantes e aumentando a das espécies tolerantes e dependentes (Maun, 1998).…”

“…Com o aumento da cobertura vegetal tem início o processo de estabilização da areia nas dunas (Moreno -Casasola, 1986). Watkinson (1990) concluiu que o declínio na abundância da espécie anual Vulpia fasciculata, ao longo de um período de 9 anos, teve precisamente como fator principal a acentuada diminuição de areia descoberta e móvel, em resultado do aumento da abundância de espécies perenes.…”

Non‐target effects of invasive species management: beachgrass, birds, and bulldozers in coastal dunes

“…This decline is clearly due to the frequent (sometimes twice per winter) and intense (flattening of the foredune) mechanized treatments at most HRAs, which creates a disturbance that is likely hard for any plant to overcome. Endemic dune plants have evolved to withstand severe disturbance and stress including sand scour, low nutrient levels, and high winds (Moreno-Casasola 1986, Yura and Ogura 2006, Gilbert et al 2008), but likely not at the levels experienced in these restoration areas. The rarity of PNW endemic dune plants, and the positive effect of seeding even one species, supports the need for wholecommunity management.…”