250
S. Shanmugam and M. Barnsley
Study Area
The study area examined in this chapter is the Kenfig Burrows National Nature
Reserve (Kenfig NNR) in south Wales (Fig. 1).
Kenfig NNR is a remnant of a much larger sand dune system that once
stretched along the coast of south Wales from the River Ogmore to the Gower
peninsula C was established as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1977 and,
at 600 hectares, is one of the largest of the 50 NNRs in Wales. It contains 575 species
of flora, of which 550 are native to the U.K. Of these, 50% are native Welsh flora and
23 are nationally scarce species. Kenfig is, however, experiencing a reduction in
biodiversity due to the continuing stabilization of the dune system. The three main
consequences of the stabilization process are that: a) there has been accelerated
succession towards a dune-heathland climax, due to the expansion of vegetated areas at
the expense of areas of mobile sand; b) sand mobility has almost stopped; and c) the
surviving pockets of original dune habitat are increasingly fragmented and isolated.
The significance of the loss of biodiversity associated with over-stabilization is
highlighted by reference to a number of important plant species.
Kenfig is the stronghold of the rare and declining fen orchid, Liparis loeselii,
supporting more than 95% of the total British population. This species is the
only higher plant occurring in Britain to be listed as a priority species in
Annex II of the original EC Habitats and Species Directive. It is also listed as
requiring protection under the 1992 Bern Convention and is on Schedule 8 of
the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1992. Despite this, it is still in decline in
Britain. At Kenfig, it occurs in wet dune slacks which are being invaded by
Salix repens, Phragmites australis and Hippophae rhamnoides (Jones 1992)
Ammophilia arenaria (marram grass) in the foredune areas is declining due to
competition from other plant species
Rumex rupestin (shore dock), and Lomosella subulata (welsh mud wort), both
pioneer species, are now almost lost
To help conserve biodiversity and to preserve the unique nature of the Kenfig NNR,
there is a pressing need to monitor and understand vegetation and dune succession in
the area, including the processes that have led to the present succession towards a
dune-heathland climax status.
Aerial Photography and Aerial Photo-Ecology
The need for plant ecologists to study the vegetation relationships of entire regions was
emphasised as early as 1926 (Howard, 1970). Today, this regional approach is
encouraged by applying aerial photographs and satellite imagery to the study of both
vegetation and terrain. It is at the level of macro-ecology that aerial photographs are
most valuable where they help to correct the imbalance between plant geography and
S. Shanmugam and M. Barnsley
Study Area
The study area examined in this chapter is the Kenfig Burrows National Nature
Reserve (Kenfig NNR) in south Wales (Fig. 1).
Kenfig NNR is a remnant of a much larger sand dune system that once
stretched along the coast of south Wales from the River Ogmore to the Gower
peninsula C was established as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1977 and,
at 600 hectares, is one of the largest of the 50 NNRs in Wales. It contains 575 species
of flora, of which 550 are native to the U.K. Of these, 50% are native Welsh flora and
23 are nationally scarce species. Kenfig is, however, experiencing a reduction in
biodiversity due to the continuing stabilization of the dune system. The three main
consequences of the stabilization process are that: a) there has been accelerated
succession towards a dune-heathland climax, due to the expansion of vegetated areas at
the expense of areas of mobile sand; b) sand mobility has almost stopped; and c) the
surviving pockets of original dune habitat are increasingly fragmented and isolated.
The significance of the loss of biodiversity associated with over-stabilization is
highlighted by reference to a number of important plant species.
Kenfig is the stronghold of the rare and declining fen orchid, Liparis loeselii,
supporting more than 95% of the total British population. This species is the
only higher plant occurring in Britain to be listed as a priority species in
Annex II of the original EC Habitats and Species Directive. It is also listed as
requiring protection under the 1992 Bern Convention and is on Schedule 8 of
the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1992. Despite this, it is still in decline in
Britain. At Kenfig, it occurs in wet dune slacks which are being invaded by
Salix repens, Phragmites australis and Hippophae rhamnoides (Jones 1992)
Ammophilia arenaria (marram grass) in the foredune areas is declining due to
competition from other plant species
Rumex rupestin (shore dock), and Lomosella subulata (welsh mud wort), both
pioneer species, are now almost lost
To help conserve biodiversity and to preserve the unique nature of the Kenfig NNR,
there is a pressing need to monitor and understand vegetation and dune succession in
the area, including the processes that have led to the present succession towards a
dune-heathland climax status.
Aerial Photography and Aerial Photo-Ecology
The need for plant ecologists to study the vegetation relationships of entire regions was
emphasised as early as 1926 (Howard, 1970). Today, this regional approach is
encouraged by applying aerial photographs and satellite imagery to the study of both
vegetation and terrain. It is at the level of macro-ecology that aerial photographs are
most valuable where they help to correct the imbalance between plant geography and