Scholarlink

<p>Coastal dune vegetation is increasingly recognised as a nature-based solution for buffering shoreline dynamics and reducing inland inundation risk during storms. This protective function depends on the capacity of vegetated dunes to maintain or build elevation, which in turn is influenced by ecological attributes at multiple scales. Yet empirical evidence on how landscape-scale attributes such as patch size compare with community-level factors like species composition and functional traits remains scarce. To address this gap, we examined how patch size, canopy structure, dominant species identity, species composition, zonation and plant traits shape elevation patterns across ten coastal sites with similar dune plant assemblages. Sediment elevation inside and outside vegetated patches was measured using centimetric-precision differential GPS. Results show that patch size was the strongest predictor of elevation: doubling patch area was associated with a 24% increase in sediment elevation. Species composition also influenced elevation: multispecific patches exhibited 64% higher median elevation than monospecific ones, and patches dominated by <i>Ammophila arenaria</i> were particularly effective (+ 23&#xa0;cm compared to other species). Although monospecific patches comprised most observations (86%), the elevation gain in multispecific patches highlights the role of species diversity in promoting vertical dune development (15.6 vs. 9.5&#xa0;cm in mean elevation, respectively). No single plant trait consistently explained elevation patterns, but our findings suggest that combinations of traits, likely related to canopy height and root architecture, appear to underlie patch-scale sediment elevation. Future dune management actions should prioritise patch-scale attributes, especially increasing patch size and promoting mixed-species compositions that include deep-rooted, dune-building grasses, to enhance elevation gain and reinforce natural defences against storm-driven inundation in dynamic coastal systems.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Vegetation Patch-Level Characteristics as key Drivers of Coastal Dune Elevation: Optimizing Nature-Based Coastal Defences

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月17日

查看全文
  • Lucía Rodríguez-Arias,
  • Aina M. Alemany,
  • Teresa Alcoverro,
  • Sara Pons Mateu,
  • Rohan Arthur,
  • Jordi F. Pagès

摘要

Coastal dune vegetation is increasingly recognised as a nature-based solution for buffering shoreline dynamics and reducing inland inundation risk during storms. This protective function depends on the capacity of vegetated dunes to maintain or build elevation, which in turn is influenced by ecological attributes at multiple scales. Yet empirical evidence on how landscape-scale attributes such as patch size compare with community-level factors like species composition and functional traits remains scarce. To address this gap, we examined how patch size, canopy structure, dominant species identity, species composition, zonation and plant traits shape elevation patterns across ten coastal sites with similar dune plant assemblages. Sediment elevation inside and outside vegetated patches was measured using centimetric-precision differential GPS. Results show that patch size was the strongest predictor of elevation: doubling patch area was associated with a 24% increase in sediment elevation. Species composition also influenced elevation: multispecific patches exhibited 64% higher median elevation than monospecific ones, and patches dominated by Ammophila arenaria were particularly effective (+ 23 cm compared to other species). Although monospecific patches comprised most observations (86%), the elevation gain in multispecific patches highlights the role of species diversity in promoting vertical dune development (15.6 vs. 9.5 cm in mean elevation, respectively). No single plant trait consistently explained elevation patterns, but our findings suggest that combinations of traits, likely related to canopy height and root architecture, appear to underlie patch-scale sediment elevation. Future dune management actions should prioritise patch-scale attributes, especially increasing patch size and promoting mixed-species compositions that include deep-rooted, dune-building grasses, to enhance elevation gain and reinforce natural defences against storm-driven inundation in dynamic coastal systems.

Graphical Abstract