Coastal dune management affects above and belowground biotic characteristics

Area of Science:

• Coastal Ecology
• Geomorphology
• Plant Ecology

Background:

• Dune vegetation is vital for coastal dune stability, influencing sand accretion and wave energy attenuation.
• Quantifying dune plant biomass distribution is challenging due to data limitations, hindering understanding of dune functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of management history and elevation on dune belowground biotic structure and aboveground plant community composition.
• To identify key predictors of belowground biomass in coastal dune ecosystems.

Main Methods:

• Field sampling of belowground biomass and sedimentology across dune profiles in the Outer Banks, North Carolina.
• Classification of dunes into managed (e.g., sand fencing, planting) and unmanaged categories.
• Statistical analysis to assess the influence of management, elevation, and sedimentology on biomass and community structure.

Main Results:

• Unmanaged dunes showed higher living and non-living belowground biomass compared to managed dunes; biomass decreased with depth.
• Elevation significantly correlated with belowground biomass, vegetative cover, and species richness.
• Plant community composition differed significantly between managed and unmanaged dunes, with less variation in managed sites.

Conclusions:

• Management history and geomorphological factors like elevation profoundly shape dune plant communities and their biomass.
• Understanding these influences is critical for predicting and enhancing dune erosion resistance through effective management strategies.