Dune Slacks Research Articles

Effects of microbial mats on germination and seedling survival of typical dune slack species in the Netherlands

The role of microbial mats in wet dune slack succession is often discussed. We tested if presence of microbial mats may retard dune slack succession by lowering the germination and seeding survival of successor species. This hypothesis was tested on a set of typical dune slack species of the Frisian Islands in two climate chamber experiments. The species were separated into early-, intermediate- and late successional species. There were large differences in germination rates between species (2% – >200% compared to the reference), but within a species the high germination rates were mostly found on sand without a microbial mat. Only the germination of Agrostis stolonifera appeared to be stimulated by the presence of a well-developed microbial mat, they were even higher than in the reference. Seedling survival also did not show different responses between successional stages. Seedlings placed on top of a microbial mat showed for most species lower survival rates compared to seedlings that were planted or placed on top of the sand. Growth was the only measured variable that differed between successional groups. Species of the early- and intermediate successional stages grew significantly better if a microbial mat was present whereas late successional species were not stimulated. Early and intermediate successional species seem to be favored by the presence of a microbial mat. An explanation for this may be that they can profit from the enhanced nitrogen availability caused by N2-fixation by cyanobacteria in the microbial mat.

Scale-dependent frequency distributions of plant species in dune slacks: Dispersal and niche limitation

Abstract Question: How do distribution patterns change with increasing scale level, and can this shift be attributed to dispersal and/or niche limitation? Location: Dune slacks at the Belgian and North French coast. Method: Frequency distribution patterns of species were tested over different scale levels (ranging from 0.008 to 45 km2). Analyses were executed for the total species pool and for subsets of species with high and low dispersal rates and habitat generalist and specialist species. Results: Species distributions for the total species pool on scale levels larger than 1.5 km2 were unimodal, with an overrepresentation of rare species. With decreasing scale level, the proportion of common species increased, leading to weak bimodality. Distributions of subsets of slowly dispersing and habitat specialist species are on all scale levels characterised by a strongly unimodal pattern. The subset of species with high dispersal rates and habitat generalist species has a higher proportion of common species, ...

Estimation of Seed Bank and Seed Viability of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence Aster, <em>Symphyotrichum laurentianum</em>, (Fernald) Nesom

The Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster, Symphyotrichum laurentianum, is a member of the family Asteraceae and is listed as “threatened” by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). This rare and vulnerable halophyte grows in only a few locations in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and the Magdalen Islands, Quebec. As an annual, S. laurentianum relies exclusively on its seeds to survive to the next generation. The goal of this study was to estimate the quantity of viable S. laurentianum seeds in the persistent and transient seed banks at selected sites in Prince Edward Island. Overall, the number of seeds in the transient and persistent seed banks is low. The greatest concentration of seeds was found near the surface of the soil. In addition, only a small proportion of those seeds tested positive for viability based on Tetrazolium staining. Of the seeds in the persistent and transient seed banks combined, 53% were viable whereas only 2% of the seeds in the persistent seed bank were viable. Population surveys were also completed at the five known sites (both extinct and extant) in Prince Edward Island National Park. All sites showed signs of decline based on population estimates dating back to 1993. The Covehead Pond site showed the greatest decline: from 250-300 individuals in 1993 to only 10 individuals in 2002. The population at Dune Slack also showed a dramatic decrease from approximately 65 000 in 1999, to 2 200 individuals in 2002. Monitoring of this plant and the development of a management plan for the species are critical to its survival.

Changes in soil and vegetation during dune slack succession

Changes in soil and vegetation during dune slack succession

An island biogeographical view of the successional pathway in wet dune slacks

Abstract. Wet dune slacks occur as small, naturally fragmented systems in the dune landscape, isolated from other slacks. We studied the effects of slack isolation and area on the rate and direction of primary succession in a chronosequence of dune slacks. The results indicate that important changes occur in community characteristics over a period of 50 yr. Total cover and number of species increase as a result of the endogenous succession process, during which organic matter and nutrients accumulate. Consequently, competitive interactions shift from competition for nutrients to competition for light. Local factors thus determine, at least partially, the community composition in the slack. However, differences in community composition with increasing age are smaller when the slack is more isolated or smaller, suggesting a slower succession rate and biomass accumulation. Together with a lower contribution of slow dispersing species in more isolated slacks, this indicates that species accumulation is dispersal limited and thus influenced by regional factors. The stochastic variation resulting from this dispersal limited species accumulation causes a divergent successional pathway.

Is succession in wet calcareous dune slacks affected by free sulfide?

Abstract. Consequences of sulfide toxicity on succession in wet calcareous dune slacks were investigated. Sulfide may exert an inhibitory effect on dune slack plants, but several pioneer species exhibit ROL (Radial Oxygen Loss) and thereby protect themselves against free sulfide. Under oxic conditions free sulfide will be oxiginated to harmless sulfate. However, successive species when not capable of ROL may be sensitive to free sulfide and cannot invade the area. Therefore, the occurrence of free sulfide may have a stabilizing effect on the pioneer vegetation.Data on the vertical distribution of oxygen, redox and sulfide were collected in mesocosms with Littorella uniflora or Carex nigra, with and without microbial mats and compared to control mesocosms. Also, in situ data were collected in a dune slack on the Frisian Island of Texel.In the mesocosms, free sulfide was detected only at nighttime in C. nigra populated mesocosms and in unvegetated units, but not in L. uniflora vegetated mesocosms. In the field, sulfide and redox profiles showed distinct differences between the groundwater exfiltration and infiltration site of the dune slack. At the exfiltration site, sulfide was only occasionally found; in contrast, measurable amounts of free sulfide were regularly found at the infiltration site of the slack.Since Phragmites australis dominates in the infiltration site of the slack, the results suggest that free sulfide accelerate the succession, rather than slowing it down by the exclusion of some plant species.

Is succession in wet calcareous dune slacks affected by free sulfide?

Abstract. Consequences of sulfide toxicity on succession in wet calcareous dune slacks were investigated. Sulfide may exert an inhibitory effect on dune slack plants, but several pioneer species exhibit ROL (Radial Oxygen Loss) and thereby protect themselves against free sulfide. Under oxic conditions free sulfide will be oxiginated to harmless sulfate. However, successive species when not capable of ROL may be sensitive to free sulfide and cannot invade the area. Therefore, the occurrence of free sulfide may have a stabilizing effect on the pioneer vegetation. Data on the vertical distribution of oxygen, redox and sulfide were collected in mesocosms with Littorella uniflora or Carex nigra, with and without microbial mats and compared to control mesocosms. Also, in situ data were collected in a dune slack on the Frisian Island of Texel. In the mesocosms, free sulfide was detected only at nighttime in C. nigra populated mesocosms and in unvegetated units, but not in L. uniflora vegetated mesocosms. In the field, sulfide and redox profiles showed distinct differences between the groundwater exfiltration and infiltration site of the dune slack. At the exfiltration site, sulfide was only occasionally found; in contrast, measurable amounts of free sulfide were regularly found at the infiltration site of the slack. Since Phragmites australis dominates in the infiltration site of the slack, the results suggest that free sulfide accelerate the succession, rather than slowing it down by the exclusion of some plant species.

Floristic composition and vegetation ecology of the Malindi Bay coastal dune field, Kenya

A short outline is given of the floristic composition, structure and distribution of coastal dune vegetation found at Malindi Bay, Kenya. The area was studied by air photo inter- pretation and field sampling to determine the relationship of plants to aeolian features. TWINSPAN classification was used to distinguish geomorphological units on the basis of their species composition. In this paper, an inventory and first quantitative analysis of vegetation distribution is presented. We identified 174 plant species from 62 families in the sand dunes and several plant communities are distinguished based on the species content and the connection with morphological units. Papilionaceae with 18 species and Poaceae with 17 species were the most represented families. A distinct zonal distribution of the plant communities was found. The most important plant species are the pioneer vegeta- tion consisting of Halopyrum mucronatum, Ipomoea pes- caprae and Scaevola plumieri. The woody shrub species which have colonized the established primary dunes and hummock dunes are Cordia somaliensis, Pluchea discoridis, Tephrosia purpurea (dunensis). Succulent herbs were identified in the dune slacks and salt marsh that are moist and damp environ- ments.

Possible positive-feedback mechanisms: plants change abiotic soil parameters in wet calcareous dune slacks

In this paper the results are presented from a mesocosm study of the effects of typical dune slack plants on the soil solution nutrient contents. In dune slack succession, early successional species often show radial oxygen loss (ROL) whereas their successor species do not show ROL. ROL has impact on abiotic soil parameters and therefore, affect the competitiveness of both species. Mesocosms with Littorella uniflora and Carex nigra, used as respectively a ROL and a non-ROL species, showed remarkable differences in soil solution parameters. Special attention was given to nitrogen, as it is the limiting resource in dune slack succession. Mesocosms with L. uniflora showed a higher nitrate content in the soil than mesocosms with C. nigra and the control. Moreover, estimating the nitrogen balance, a significantly higher fraction of nitrogen was missing in L. uniflora (57%) than in C. nigra (5%). The enhanced nitrogen loss in mesocosms with L. uniflora could act as a positive-feedback mechanism for early successional stages that slows down the vegetation development in early stages of dune slack succession towards the more-productive later stages. The mechanism could even lead to alternative stable states in dune slack succession.

An island biogeographical view of the successional pathway in wet dune slacks

Wet dune slacks occur as small, naturally frag- mented systems in the dune landscape, isolated from other slacks. We studied the effects of slack isolation and area on the rate and direction of primary succession in a chronosequence of dune slacks. The results indicate that important changes occur in community characteristics over a period of 50 yr. Total cover and number of species increase as a result of the endogenous succession process, during which organic matter and nutrients accumulate. Consequently, competitive interac- tions shift from competition for nutrients to competition for light. Local factors thus determine, at least partially, the com- munity composition in the slack. However, differences in community composition with increasing age are smaller when the slack is more isolated or smaller, suggesting a slower succession rate and biomass accumulation. Together with a lower contribution of slow dispersing species in more isolated slacks, this indicates that species accumulation is dispersal limited and thus influenced by regional factors. The stochastic variation resulting from this dispersal limited species accumu- lation causes a divergent successional pathway.

Paleoindian geoarchaeology and paleoenvironments of the western Killpecker Dunes, Wyoming, U.S.A.

AbstractThe Killpecker Dunes in southwestern Wyoming have long been known to contain evidence for Paleoindian occupation. This paper presents the results of geoarchaeological investigations in the western, dormant portion of the Killpecker Dunes. Five localities, including the Krmpotich Folsom and Finley Cody Complex sites, were examined in order to better understand the Paleoindian geochronology of the dune field, and to facilitate a late Quaternary paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Age control is provided by radiocarbon, optical, and artifact ages. Four late Quaternary eolian units, designated as strata 1–4, were recognized; strata 1 and 2 are relevant to the Paleoindian record. Aggradation of stratum 1 began by at least 14,690 cal yr (∼12,55014C yr B.P.), probably in the form of a sand sheet under cool, dry conditions. Redoximorphic features are ubiquitous in stratum 1, indicating a rise in the water table during the latest Pleistocene. A buried soil (Calcid) at the top of this unit indicates a period of stability between ca. 12,000 and 11,00014C yr B.P. and has the potential to yield Clovis (11,200–10,90014C yr B.P.) artifacts. Unconformably overlying stratum 1 is stratum 2, a latest Pleistocene to early Holocene sand containing Folsom (10,900–10,20014C yr B.P.) through Cody Complex (9000–850014C yr B.P.) occupations. A buried soil characterized by the accumulation of illuvial clay and sodium (Natrargid) occurs at the top of stratum 2 and probably formed in and around interdunal ponds. The association of Paleoindian material with the stratum 2 soil suggests the use of interdunal areas as natural traps for hunting extinct bison. The accumulation of soluble salts indicates increased rates of evaporation during the early Holocene, probably from an increase in summer insolation. Although conditions in the dune field during the early Holocene became increasingly dry, they were probably moister than at present. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Stream/aquifer interactions at Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado: influences on interdunal wetland disappearance

Between 1937 and 1995 a complex of more than 100 interdunal wetlands disappeared from Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado. We investigated three hypotheses that could explain wetland disappearance: (1) dune movement during a severe drought in the 1950s buried the wetlands, (2) agriculture related ground water pumping lowered the regional water table, and (3) changes in local hydrologic processes led to wetland loss. We used regional stream flow records, ground water level measurements, natural stable isotope analyses, soil stratigraphy, buried seed banks, and ground water modeling to address these hypotheses. Hydrologic data and stable isotope analyses illustrated the interaction between Sand Creek, a nearby stream, and the unconfined aquifer in the area where wetlands occurred. When the intermittent Sand Creek flows, seepage through its bed creates a large ground water mound under the creek. The seasonal development and dispersion of this mound propagates pressure waves through the aquifer that influence ground water levels up to 2 km from Sand Creek. Our data suggest the primary factors contributing to wetland disappearance were recent climatic fluctuations and incision of the Sand Creek channel. Below average stream flow between 1950 and 1980 reduced the duration of Sand Creek flow across the dune complex, minimizing ground water mound development. Consequently, the water table in the unconfined aquifer dropped ∼1.0 m and interdunal wetlands dried up. Twentieth Century incision of Sand Creek's channel reduced ground water mound height ∼2.5 m, decreasing seasonal water table fluctuations at interdunal wetlands and contributing to the overall water table decline. Long-term wet and dry cycles affect the water table elevation more than channel incision, leading us to conclude that many interdunal wetlands are ephemeral features. Wetland area is maximized during consecutive years of above average Sand Creek discharge and minimized as the water table drops during dry periods.

Stratigraphic evolution and preservation of aeolian dune and damp/wet interdune strata: an example from the Triassic Helsby Sandstone Formation, Cheshire Basin, UK

Abstract New and previously published models of wet aeolian system evolution form a spectrum of types that may be explained in terms of aeolian dune dynamics, rate of water table rise and/or periodicity of interdune flooding. This is illustrated with an example from the Mid‐Triassic (Anisian) Helsby Sandstone Formation, Cheshire, UK. Lenses of damp and wet interdune strata exhibit an intertonguing, transitional relationship with the toe‐sets of overlying aeolian dune units. This signifies dune migration that was contemporaneous with water table‐controlled accumulation in adjacent interdunes. Downwind changes in the geometry and facies of the interdune units indicate periodic expansion and contraction of the interdunes in response to changes in the elevation of the groundwater table and episodic flooding, during which accumulation of dune strata continued relatively uninterrupted. This contrasts with other models for accumulation in wet aeolian systems where interdune flooding is associated with a cessation in aeolian bedform climbing and the formation of a bypass or erosional supersurface. Architectural panels document the detailed stratigraphy in orientations both parallel and perpendicular to aeolian transport direction, enabling a quantitative three‐dimensional reconstruction of genetically related aeolian dune and interdune elements. Sets of aeolian dune strata are composed of grainflow and translatent wind‐ripple strata and are divided by a hierarchy of bounding surfaces originating from oblique migration of superimposed dunes over slipfaceless, sinuous‐crested parent bedforms, together with lee‐slope reactivation under non‐equilibrium flow conditions. Silty‐mudstone and sandstone interdune units are characterized by wind ripple‐, wavy‐ and subaqueous wave ripple‐laminae, desiccation cracks, mud flakes, raindrop imprints, load casts, flutes, intraformational rip‐up clasts and vertebrate and invertebrate footprint impressions and trackways. These units result from accumulation on a substrate that varied from dry‐ through damp‐ to wet‐surface conditions. Interdune ponds were flooded by either fluvial incursions or rises in groundwater table and were periodically subject to gradual desiccation and reflooding. Red silty‐mudstone beds of subaqueous origin pass laterally into horizontally laminated wind‐ripple beds indicating a progressive transition from wet‐ through damp‐ to dry‐surface conditions within a single interdune.

Hoanib River flood deposits of Namib Desert interdunes asanalogues for thin permeability barrier mudstone layers inaeolianite reservoirs

ABSTRACT The ephemeral braided Hoanib River of NW Namibia flows for a few days a year, and only high discharges enable the river to pass through interdunal depressions within the northern Namib Desert dune field to the Atlantic. The dune field comprises mainly large transverse dunes resulting from predominant SSW winds. River flood deposits between aeolian dunes are analogous to mudstone layers conformably interbedded with ancient aeolianite dune foresets. Deep floods pond laterally to considerable depths (metres to >10 m) in adjacent interdunes, depositing mud layers (1–50 cm) to considerable heights on avalanche and stoss faces of bounding dunes. Fairly passive flooding only disturbs aeolian stratification minimally. Floodwater clay infiltrates and settles as an impermeable seal, with a flood pond on top, perched, above regional groundwater. Flood ponds evaporate slowly for long periods (>3 years). Early emergence desiccates higher parts of a mud layer. Subsequent floods can refill a predecessor pond, benefiting from the existing impervious seal. Potential preservation of such mud layers is lower on the stoss face, but high on the avalanche face after burial by subsequent dune reactivation and migration. The leeward (right) Hoanib bank, a dune stoss face, is river and wind eroded to exhume fossil interdune pond mud layers of an earlier Hoanib channel. The highly inclined layers are interbedded with dune avalanche foresets and represent the edges of two successive fossil ponds exposed in plan. Ancient flood pond mudstones occur in the Permian–Triassic hydrocarbon reservoir, the Sherwood Sandstone Group of the Cheshire Basin (Kinnerton Formation) and Irish Sea Basin and were previously used erroneously to argue against the aeolian origin of cross‐bed sets. Hoanib studies show that primary river interaction with a dune field might preserve only localized erosional omission surfaces in ancient aeolianites, with little sandy barform preservation, prone to aeolian reworking. Around the main fluvial channel locus, however, flood pond mudstone layers should form a predictable halo, within which fluid permeability will decrease.

Alternative stable states in a wet calcareous dune slack in The Netherlands

Abstract. Evidence is presented for the occurrence of alternative stable states in a wet calcareous dune slack on the Frisian island of Texel, The Netherlands. An early pioneer stage (0.5 kgm−2 total standing crop) and a more productive later successional stage (2.9 kg m−2) occur side by side, with sharp boundaries between them. The pioneer vegetation has been recorded at the site for more than 62 yr. These features indicate the occurrence of a positive‐feedback mechanism that has led to alternative stable states.Analyses of ground and surface water composition, and decalcification depths, indicated that hydrologically the study site can be characterized as a flow‐through slack, with exfiltration of calcareous groundwater on one side and infiltration of surface water on the other side of the slack. These differences in hydrological conditions have led to distinct differences in environmental conditions within the dune slack. The occurrence of the two successional stages can, however, not be explained by differences in hydrological conditions since both stages occur side by side in the centre of the dune slack. It is, therefore, more likely that biotic interactions are the cause of the vegetation pattern. Three possible mechanisms for feedback processes are discussed: (1) enhanced nitrogen loss; (2) sulfide toxicity and (3) nutrient accumulation in internal cycle.

Alternative stable states in a wet calcareous dune slack in The Netherlands

Evidence is presented for the occurrence of alterna- tive stable states in a wet calcareous dune slack on the Frisian island of Texel, The Netherlands. An early pioneer stage (0.5 kg m-2 total standing crop) and a more productive later succes- sional stage (2.9 kg m-2) occur side by side, with sharp bounda- ries between them. The pioneer vegetation has been recorded at the site for more than 62 yr. These features indicate the occurrence of a positive-feedback mechanism that has led to alternative stable states. Analyses of ground and surface water composition, and decalcification depths, indicated that hydrologically the study site can be characterized as a flow-through slack, with exfiltration of calcareous groundwater on one side and infiltration of sur- face water on the other side of the slack. These differences in hydrological conditions have led to distinct differences in envi- ronmental conditions within the dune slack. The occurrence of the two successional stages can, however, not be explained by differences in hydrological conditions since both stages occur side by side in the centre of the dune slack. It is, therefore, more likely that biotic interactions are the cause of the vegeta- tion pattern. Three possible mechanisms for feedback proc- esses are discussed: (1) enhanced nitrogen loss; (2) sulfide toxicity and (3) nutrient accumulation in internal cycle.

Branchiopoda (Ctenopoda and Anomopoda) and Copepoda from eastern Numidia, Algeria

A total of 33 sites (27 temporary pools, five dune slacks and one shallow lake) were sampled during January 1998. Forty two taxa (one ctenopoda, 19 anomopoda and 22 copepoda) are recorded. Data from the varied habitats types (temporary pools, dunary ponds, shallow lakes) are compared and biotic and abiotic factors influencing the spatial and temporal distribution of local zooplankton are discussed. The paper concludes with comments why local conservation efforts need to be directed towards temporary pools and dune slacks, two much-neglected habitats.

Quantifying landscape-ecological succession in a coastal dune system using sequential aerial photography and GIS

This contribution presents an attempt to measure the path of habitat and vegetation succession in a coastal dune system (Kenfig Burrows, South Wales) using remote sensing and GIS. The loss of slack habitats associated with the con- tinuing stabilization of this dune system is a major cause for concern. These habitats support a range of plant species, including the rare fen orchid, Liparis loeselii, as well as other hydrophytes. A decrease in their areal extent implies a reduc- tion in biodiversity. To quantify the overall rate and spatial dimension of these changes, a series of aerial photographs dating from 1962 to 1994 were digitized and analysed in an image processing system. The resultant maps, transferred to a vector-based GIS, were used to derive a transition matrix for the dune system over this period of time. The results indicate that there has been a marked reduction in the total area of bare sand (19.6% of the dune system in 1962, but only 1.5% in 1994) and a decline in both the areal extent and the number of dune slacks. Over the same period of time, there has been an increase in Salix repens dominated habitats, at the expense of pioneer species. Analysis of the habitat maps, together with hydrological data, within the GIS suggests that even the dry slacks have the potential for further greening and to support invasive species. In terms of habitat management, however, there is still scope to restore many of the slacks to their original state. It is estimated that at least 24% of the area occupied by partially and moderately vegetated slacks could be rehabili- tated.

Pampas grass control with haloxyfop in conservations sites on difficult terrain

An effective method was sought to control pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) in conservation sites with difficult terrain At one such site the dunes and dune slack communities on Pouto Peninsula we tested three methods of applying the herbicide haloxyfop from a helicopter beer keg weighted nozzle and lance All three methods gave a similar high level of control of pampas grass but differed considerably in cost One year after herbicide application many of the pampas grass plants in the plots had new shoots and native plant species had begun to colonise the old pampas clumps All sprayed plots needed treatment of the regrowth to completely control the pampas grass

Restoration of Wet Dune Slacks on the Dutch Wadden Sea Islands: Recolonization After Large‐Scale Sod Cutting

AbstractThe effects of sod cutting were studied in a dune area on the Dutch Wadden Sea Island of Texel. Sod cutting was carried out in a range of different dune slacks in order to restore dune slack vegetation with many endangered Red List species. Sod cutting removed approximately 96% of the soil seed bank. Species abundant in the seed bank, notably Juncacea, also had a high frequency in the vegetation that established during the first year after the restoration measures. Many other species not registered in the seed bank or in the former vegetation also appeared. Species richness in the monitored plots exceeded that of uncut reference plots after a few years. Colonization rates were higher than extinction rates in most plots, indicating that a stable state has not been reached after 5 years. Differences in species richness between slacks appeared to be related to the occurrence of source areas nearby and availability of dispersal agents, such as flooding and animals.