Characteristics and status of coastal sand dune vegetation on coasts of Shandong Province

Abstract

<p indent="0mm">Coastal sand dune vegetation is a non-zonal vegetation type, mainly composed of coastal sand dune plants resistant to impoverishment, drought, and mild salinity, which is distributed on the sandy coast of China. There is typical coastal sand dune vegetation on the coasts of Shandong Province. Although the distribution area of coastal sand dune vegetation is small, it has important ecological value and regional significance because of its original nature, protective effect on sandy coast, and various rare and endangered plants. By field investigation and literature review, we studied the characteristics of the composition, structure, distribution, and succession of coastal sand dune vegetation on sandy coasts of Shandong Province. It is classified in to 13 community types. We also analyze the changes and causes of the coastal sand dune vegetation in Shandong Province from 1985 to 2020 in terms of the composition, distribution, and vegetation type. Due to the impact of urbanization, real estate, coastal road construction, sand excavation, tourism, and other human activities, the degradation of coastal sand dune vegetation is serious and widespread. It is very important and urgent to put forward the countermeasures of protecting and restoring coastal sand dune vegetation, such as conducting basic research, implementing specific protection and management. Meanwhile, we put forward specific suggestions on the status of the coastal sand dune vegetation in Chinese vegetation classification and vegetation mapping.