Vulnerability assessment of coastal plant communities from flooding caused by unusual storms: A case study of Kabakum beach, Varna (Northeastern Bulgaria) for 2018 year

Vergiev Stoyan Vergiev Stoyan,Kotsev Iliyan Kotsev Iliyan,Filipova-Marinova Mariana Filipova-Marinova Mariana,Trifonova Ekaterina Trifonova Ekaterina

doi:10.30574/gscbps.2019.9.3.0239

Abstract

The present paper proposed a rapid method for vulnerability assessment of coastal plant communities from flooding caused by unusual storms over the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The model was tested and applied on Kabakum beach, Varna (Northeastern Bulgaria) for 2018 year. In order to create a dynamic GIS model, data from experimental results and detailed GIS mapping on the Kabakum beach (Varna) were incorporated. As a result of a simulated flooding experiment, Critical Decomposition Time (CDT) was obtained. Linking flood duration with CDT and altitudinal spreading of plants determines that Аrtemisia vulgaris L., Eryngium maritimum L. and Crambe maritima L. are vulnerable to storms. The plant communities in Kabakum beach are not threatened by complete destruction even during a storm with a return period of 100 years. Habitat recovery is likely within a season and does not require human intervention.

Highlights

Coastal areas are very fragile ecosystems that are sensitive to global climate changes, sea level rise and frequent storm surges [1,2,3]
This paper proposes a rapid method for vulnerability assessment of coastal plant communities from flooding caused by unusual storms over the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
The plant communities in Kabakum beach are not threatened by complete destruction, even during a storm with return period of 100 years

Summary

Introduction

Coastal areas are very fragile ecosystems that are sensitive to global climate changes, sea level rise and frequent storm surges [1,2,3] These areas, with their naturally established coastal dunes, perform important ecosystem services such as protection against storm waves, storm surges, and high tides [3, 4], and act as a buffer for low-lying inland urbanized and agricultural territories [5, 6]. They provide habitats for many rare and endangered species, which will be lost due to the combination of negative consequences of flooding and erosion as well as strengthen anthropogenic impact [3, 6, 7]. Recorded damages from storms over the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast [7, 8, 9] showed the negative impact to the dunes and the high potential of the root systems of some of the native psammophytes to accumulate sand and prevent from washout [3, 9,10,11]

Methods

Results

Conclusion