Chapter 4
Natural Plant Diversity Development
on a Man-Made Dune System
Peter Vestergaard
4.1 Introduction
Natural formation of coastal foredunes involves interaction among sand, sea, wind,
and plant growth (Carter 1988; Klijn 1990; Nordstrom et al. 1990; Martinez and
Psuty 2004). The subsequent development of the dunes implies a gradual increase
in species richness as a result of the combined effect of biotic and abiotic conditions and processes, related to dune age and distance to the sea (Carter 1988;
McLachlan 1991; Lichter 1998; Hesp 1999).
Natural dunes make up a valuable natural resource because of their relatively
high biodiversity and the occurrence of many specialized species of plants and
animals. Coastal dunes, however, may include areas that are not purely naturally
formed. Thus, many dune systems play an important role in coastal protection or
may serve as an important resource for recreation or the catchment of drinking
water (van der Maarel 1979; van der Meulen and Jungerius 1989). Because of the
erosion, restoration measures are often needed in such dune systems (van der
Meulen and van der Maarel 1989; De Lillis et al. 2004; Kiehl and Isermann (2007).
In Denmark, large dune areas occur along the North Sea coast of Jutland
(Doody 1991). However, dunes also occur along the coastlines of the Kattegat and
as part of the barrier coasts along the Baltic. As they are important resources for
recreation and coastal protection, many Danish dunes, however, are currently
restored and maintained by the local mechanical leveling of sharp dune edges and
the planting of Ammophila to prevent sand drift, or by replenishment by means of
sand nourishment (Jensen 1994, 2008).
P. Vestergaard (&)
Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken
15, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
e-mail: peterv@bio.ku.dk
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_4,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
49
Natural Plant Diversity Development
on a Man-Made Dune System
Peter Vestergaard
4.1 Introduction
Natural formation of coastal foredunes involves interaction among sand, sea, wind,
and plant growth (Carter 1988; Klijn 1990; Nordstrom et al. 1990; Martinez and
Psuty 2004). The subsequent development of the dunes implies a gradual increase
in species richness as a result of the combined effect of biotic and abiotic conditions and processes, related to dune age and distance to the sea (Carter 1988;
McLachlan 1991; Lichter 1998; Hesp 1999).
Natural dunes make up a valuable natural resource because of their relatively
high biodiversity and the occurrence of many specialized species of plants and
animals. Coastal dunes, however, may include areas that are not purely naturally
formed. Thus, many dune systems play an important role in coastal protection or
may serve as an important resource for recreation or the catchment of drinking
water (van der Maarel 1979; van der Meulen and Jungerius 1989). Because of the
erosion, restoration measures are often needed in such dune systems (van der
Meulen and van der Maarel 1989; De Lillis et al. 2004; Kiehl and Isermann (2007).
In Denmark, large dune areas occur along the North Sea coast of Jutland
(Doody 1991). However, dunes also occur along the coastlines of the Kattegat and
as part of the barrier coasts along the Baltic. As they are important resources for
recreation and coastal protection, many Danish dunes, however, are currently
restored and maintained by the local mechanical leveling of sharp dune edges and
the planting of Ammophila to prevent sand drift, or by replenishment by means of
sand nourishment (Jensen 1994, 2008).
P. Vestergaard (&)
Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken
15, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
e-mail: peterv@bio.ku.dk
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_4,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
49