Phytogeographical Aspects of the Vegetation of the Outer Dunes in the Atlantic Province of Europe

Abstract

During 1969, 1970 and 1972 data were collected along the European Atlantic coast from the Spanish/French frontier to Cape Skagen in Denmark. The vegetation was described along transects, perpendicular to the coast, in the outer dune area in terms of species composition and life-forms, in sample plots of 4 m2 divided into sixteen subquadrats. Climatological data were compiledfor twenty-six stations in this area, and soil samples along the transects were taken at thirtyfour locations. In the evaluation of the data, nine segments were distinguished in the area studied and for each of the segments the vegetation was grouped for four stages of dune building, namely drift, Elytrigia dune, initial Ammophila dune, and terminal Ammophila dune