The coastal landscape is subject to intense spatial and temporal dynamics, most
strongly influenced by flooding and aeolian dynamics, fluctuating salinity, and
succession processes. Flora and fauna are specifically adapted to these processes.
The availability of various niches related to strong gradients in abiotic and biotic
conditions make the coastal landscape one of the most biodiverse systems on our
planet, of which still a lot is unknown. Moreover, coastal ecosystems are highly
interconnected, at local as well as at global scales. Changing conditions and processes in one place, may affect coastal habitats thousands of kilometres away.
Since very long times, coastal landscapes, shallow waters along the shoreline and
estuaries belong to the important regions for human society, offering various ecosystem services However, in recent times, characteristic coastal ecosystems undergo
a dramatically decline in quality and quantity (Janssen et al. 2016), although their
values and threats have been noted already for a long time (Jefferies and Davy 1979;
Westhoff 1985; Duarte et al. 2008; Nellemann et al. 2009; Vierros 2017). They occur
under serious pressure through various—mostly human-induced—threats adversely
altering abiotic and biotic conditions. These threats include land-use intensification
as well as abandonment, land reclamation (Spalding et al. 2014), large-scale destructions for industrial, artificial coastal defence, harbour and commercial purposes,
residential and commercial building development, tourism, extraction of oil, gas
and drinking water, pollution, increasing pressure of invasive and other problematic
species, sea-level rise, and the increase of climate-related extremes. Many of the
artificial conversions of coastlines obstruct natural dynamics and may lead to
dysfunctions in sediment availability and the interruption of alongshore sediment
transport. Furthermore, the introduction of—often invasive—alien species is becoming a serious threat, for native species and communities. Dune protection went along
with over-stabilization of the remaining complexes by planting trees and huge
amounts of Marram grass (Ammophila arenaria; Martínez et al. 2013).
Some of the coastal habitats, e.g. saline shrubland or saltmarshes, may be less
charismatic than other habitats, e.g. coral reefs, which leads to a decrease in public
awareness of their losses, results in the continuation of detrimental practices and
thus, contributes to their continued decline. More effective communication of
scientific knowledge about these assumed uncharismatic, but ecologically important
coastal habitats is required (Duarte et al. 2008).
In the following, we describe and analyse recent environmental conditions and
challenges of subtidal, intertidal, supratidal (terrestrial) as well as inland saline
habitats, which in comparison with saltmarshes reflect quite similar ecological
conditions and species compositions. We quantify the pressure on the flora and
fauna of coastal habitats in different regions, habitat types and taxonomic groups.
Furthermore, we present selected examples of effective nature conservation concepts
and measures. As climate-change induced changes in coastal dynamics, such as
severe floods and hurricanes represent an increasing threat for uninhabited as well as
populated coastlines, we conclude with a brief discussion on nature-based solutions,
which may offer new opportunities for coastal defence.
Coastal Habitats, Shallow Seas and Inland Saline Steppes: Ecology,. . .
281
strongly influenced by flooding and aeolian dynamics, fluctuating salinity, and
succession processes. Flora and fauna are specifically adapted to these processes.
The availability of various niches related to strong gradients in abiotic and biotic
conditions make the coastal landscape one of the most biodiverse systems on our
planet, of which still a lot is unknown. Moreover, coastal ecosystems are highly
interconnected, at local as well as at global scales. Changing conditions and processes in one place, may affect coastal habitats thousands of kilometres away.
Since very long times, coastal landscapes, shallow waters along the shoreline and
estuaries belong to the important regions for human society, offering various ecosystem services However, in recent times, characteristic coastal ecosystems undergo
a dramatically decline in quality and quantity (Janssen et al. 2016), although their
values and threats have been noted already for a long time (Jefferies and Davy 1979;
Westhoff 1985; Duarte et al. 2008; Nellemann et al. 2009; Vierros 2017). They occur
under serious pressure through various—mostly human-induced—threats adversely
altering abiotic and biotic conditions. These threats include land-use intensification
as well as abandonment, land reclamation (Spalding et al. 2014), large-scale destructions for industrial, artificial coastal defence, harbour and commercial purposes,
residential and commercial building development, tourism, extraction of oil, gas
and drinking water, pollution, increasing pressure of invasive and other problematic
species, sea-level rise, and the increase of climate-related extremes. Many of the
artificial conversions of coastlines obstruct natural dynamics and may lead to
dysfunctions in sediment availability and the interruption of alongshore sediment
transport. Furthermore, the introduction of—often invasive—alien species is becoming a serious threat, for native species and communities. Dune protection went along
with over-stabilization of the remaining complexes by planting trees and huge
amounts of Marram grass (Ammophila arenaria; Martínez et al. 2013).
Some of the coastal habitats, e.g. saline shrubland or saltmarshes, may be less
charismatic than other habitats, e.g. coral reefs, which leads to a decrease in public
awareness of their losses, results in the continuation of detrimental practices and
thus, contributes to their continued decline. More effective communication of
scientific knowledge about these assumed uncharismatic, but ecologically important
coastal habitats is required (Duarte et al. 2008).
In the following, we describe and analyse recent environmental conditions and
challenges of subtidal, intertidal, supratidal (terrestrial) as well as inland saline
habitats, which in comparison with saltmarshes reflect quite similar ecological
conditions and species compositions. We quantify the pressure on the flora and
fauna of coastal habitats in different regions, habitat types and taxonomic groups.
Furthermore, we present selected examples of effective nature conservation concepts
and measures. As climate-change induced changes in coastal dynamics, such as
severe floods and hurricanes represent an increasing threat for uninhabited as well as
populated coastlines, we conclude with a brief discussion on nature-based solutions,
which may offer new opportunities for coastal defence.
Coastal Habitats, Shallow Seas and Inland Saline Steppes: Ecology,. . .
281