habitats which evolved under dynamic conditions and are adopted to strong coastal
wind and water dynamics. However, as the natural resilience of these habitats is now
often impaired by anthropogenic factors and climate extremes facilitate previously
unknown variation to natural dynamics, climate change has become a growing threat
to coastal ecosystems.
We outline past and currently applied projects and activities, which we perceive
as promising examples of science-based nature conservation measures in relation to
main threats and socio-economic issues. We conclude with discussing future perspectives of coastal habitats on global and regional scale, in the light of global
change, i.e. human influence on natural dynamics, land use change, climate change,
and coastal protection.
Solutions to reduce the pressure on coastal habitats and biota comprise, among
others, e.g. to enlarge nature reserves and zero-use zones, to reduce human impact at
landscape scales, and to give space for natural dynamics. Pollution and the impact of
fertilizers may be locally reduced by buffer zones and technological solutions.
However, the local interest in reducing sewage and nutrient release can only be
limited by national or supra-national recycling policies and related regulations.
One of the problems which cannot easily be solved is the irreversible introduction
of alien species. Invasion of native biota can also become a problem if environmental
conditions are altered. In this case every problem has to be monitored at regional
scales and managed by hand, if possible.
At the same time, we assume that current tendencies, e.g. growing settlements and
cities at the coasts, increasing tourism and climate change cannot be reversed in a
short time.
Furthermore, political decisions are often unpredictable.
Keywords Coastal cliffs · Coastal habitats · Dunes · Ecosystem functions · Inland
saline habitats · Mangroves · Coral reefs · Saltmarshes · Seagrass beds · Subtidal
habitats · Threats
1 Introduction
The term coastal habitats comprise all habitat types found within the transition zone
between land and sea. It refers to diverse ecosystems within the shallow subtidal and
intertidal zone. At the terrestrial side, these often relatively narrow strips are naturally bordered by rock formations, sea cliffs and, in more gradual transitions
situations, by sand dunes (supratidal zone) or saltmarshes. The coastal landscape
as such include coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, saltmarshes, algal communities including “giant kelp forests” (Schiel and Foster 2015), lichen and vascular plant
communities of rocky shores and sea cliffs, as well as sandy dune habitats in diverse
stages of development. Although natural coastal landscapes only cover a small
percentage of the Earth’s surface, they are unique ecosystems with a highly diverse
flora and fauna.
280
C. Hobohm et al.
wind and water dynamics. However, as the natural resilience of these habitats is now
often impaired by anthropogenic factors and climate extremes facilitate previously
unknown variation to natural dynamics, climate change has become a growing threat
to coastal ecosystems.
We outline past and currently applied projects and activities, which we perceive
as promising examples of science-based nature conservation measures in relation to
main threats and socio-economic issues. We conclude with discussing future perspectives of coastal habitats on global and regional scale, in the light of global
change, i.e. human influence on natural dynamics, land use change, climate change,
and coastal protection.
Solutions to reduce the pressure on coastal habitats and biota comprise, among
others, e.g. to enlarge nature reserves and zero-use zones, to reduce human impact at
landscape scales, and to give space for natural dynamics. Pollution and the impact of
fertilizers may be locally reduced by buffer zones and technological solutions.
However, the local interest in reducing sewage and nutrient release can only be
limited by national or supra-national recycling policies and related regulations.
One of the problems which cannot easily be solved is the irreversible introduction
of alien species. Invasion of native biota can also become a problem if environmental
conditions are altered. In this case every problem has to be monitored at regional
scales and managed by hand, if possible.
At the same time, we assume that current tendencies, e.g. growing settlements and
cities at the coasts, increasing tourism and climate change cannot be reversed in a
short time.
Furthermore, political decisions are often unpredictable.
Keywords Coastal cliffs · Coastal habitats · Dunes · Ecosystem functions · Inland
saline habitats · Mangroves · Coral reefs · Saltmarshes · Seagrass beds · Subtidal
habitats · Threats
1 Introduction
The term coastal habitats comprise all habitat types found within the transition zone
between land and sea. It refers to diverse ecosystems within the shallow subtidal and
intertidal zone. At the terrestrial side, these often relatively narrow strips are naturally bordered by rock formations, sea cliffs and, in more gradual transitions
situations, by sand dunes (supratidal zone) or saltmarshes. The coastal landscape
as such include coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, saltmarshes, algal communities including “giant kelp forests” (Schiel and Foster 2015), lichen and vascular plant
communities of rocky shores and sea cliffs, as well as sandy dune habitats in diverse
stages of development. Although natural coastal landscapes only cover a small
percentage of the Earth’s surface, they are unique ecosystems with a highly diverse
flora and fauna.
280
C. Hobohm et al.