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Abstract
Coastal dunes are recognized as one of the most threatened ecosystems, the formation of which mainly depends on two opposite processes—sand dunes overgrowth and formation of open dunes. The application of cost-effective remote sensing methods permits monitoring the interaction of these two processes over a large area and long periods of time. Therefore in this study we assessed the links between hydro-meteorological parameters and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in Curonian spit coastal dunes landscape-a creation of human and nature integrity situated in the South eastern part of the Baltic Sea. Time series of NDVI (2000–2019) were obtained from the moderate resolution imaging spectro-radiometer and compared with hydro-meteorological parameters in three different ecosystems—forest, herbaceous and open sands. Moderate and strong positive correlation between NDVI and average wind speed was detected in non-forested ecosystems. Moderate positive correlation was detected between NDVI and the Baltic sea water level in all three analyzed ecosystems. Moderate positive correlation between NDVI and air temperature was found in forest ecosystem. This confirms that NDVI could be treated as an appropriate indicator, showing the interaction of coastal dunes overgrowth and formation of open dunes, and could be applied in its management that should be reconsidered under nowadays climate change.
Highlights
The Curonian Spit is a sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast
The main aim of this study is to show that development of coastal dunes ecosystems would result in vegetation cover changes that would be reflected by normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values and that changes in NDVI would reflect the synergetic influence of changing hydro-climatological conditions
Three ecosystem types—forest, herbaceous and open sand, dominating in Curonian spit are characterized by different NDVI values
Summary
The Curonian Spit is a sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast. It was formed by the sea and sand supply, affected by wind, vegetation, human activity and continues to be shaped by them. This outstanding creation was inscribed on the World Heritage. During a realization of WHC commitments a question about what nature and human interaction result should be protected in this territory appears: what part of sandy dunes should be covered by forest, herbaceous and open sand ecosystems. Irrational human activity started the processes influencing natural development of dunes landscape in the opposite direction.
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