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A connectivity threshold between grass patches amplifies coastal dune formation.
Paul M J Berghuis1,2, Valérie C Reijers3, Johan van de Koppel4,5
1Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, The Netherlands. p.m.j.berghuis@uu.nl.
Nature Communications
|March 20, 2026
Summary
Dune grasses form clusters that amplify sand-trapping capacity, driving dune growth. This spatial clustering, rather than individual plant size, is key to coastal dune resilience and ecosystem services.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Geomorphology
- Ecosystem Engineering
Background:
- Biogeomorphic systems provide essential ecosystem services through feedback loops between organisms and geological processes.
- Current understanding of these feedbacks is limited to individual patch scales, neglecting larger landscape dynamics.
- The spatial interactions between patches and their influence on landscape formation remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how interactions between dune-building grass patches influence landscape development at larger scales.
- To determine the relationship between patch density, patch size, and dune morphology.
- To identify the mechanisms driving amplified ecosystem engineering capacity in dune systems.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a decade of morphological development data from an establishing coastal dune system.
- Quantification of dune height in relation to initial patch density and individual patch size.
- Identification of spatial relationships and thresholds governing patch connectivity and dune growth.
Main Results:
- Dune height is significantly driven by the initial density of neighboring patches, not individual patch size.
- An S-shaped relationship was observed, indicating a spatial percolation threshold.
- Increasing local patch density leads to a shift from isolated patches to functionally connected clusters that enhance dune growth.
Conclusions:
- Dune-building grasses form functional clusters that amplify their landscape engineering capacity.
- A spatial dimension of ecosystem engineering, driven by patch interactions and density, is critical for dune formation.
- Understanding these spatial dynamics can inform coastal restoration strategies and enhance ecosystem resilience.
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