Dune Vegetation Research Articles

Differences in the Morphology of Restored and Invaded Foredunes on the North Spit of Humboldt Bay, California, U.S.A.

McDonald, K.L., 2020. Differences in the morphology of restored and invaded foredunes on the North Spit of Humboldt Bay, California, U.S.A. Journal of Coastal Research, 36(5), 973–980. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Invasive plants have altered wide-ranging coastal dune vegetation communities worldwide, and the effects of nonnative vegetation and invasive plant management on dune geomorphology are of interest to many coastal land managers, researchers, and coastal communities. This study compared the slopes, elevations, and profiles of invaded and restored foredunes on the North Spit of Humboldt Bay, California, using data from a high-resolution 2010 digital elevation model. Restoration of foredunes by removing invasive European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria [L.] Link) took place over the last three decades in approximately half of the study area, and the restored areas now primarily support American dunegrass (Elymus mollis Trin.) and other native dune species. Despite recently voiced public concerns that restoration might be permanently lowering the foredune, restored and invaded areas showed no significant difference in height. However, invaded foredunes were significantly steeper with a flatter, plateau-like top, while restored areas were more gently sloping with rounded peaks. Foredune heights increased from the southern end of the study area to the north, regardless of restoration status, suggesting that other factors control foredune height.

Red Fox Use of Landscapes with Nesting Shorebirds

ABSTRACTPredation of nests and young is one of the limiting factors in the conservation of birds; understanding environmental covariates of predator distribution can assist with decisions regarding the best management strategies to reduce predation risk. The habitat of beach‐nesting birds is often reshaped by storms in ways that may affect nest predation, such as by flattening vegetated dunes where mammals hunt, but human management of beaches tries to prevent the effects of storms on the landscape with unknown implications for predator distributions. Moreover, human development may affect predator distributions by subsidizing food and shelter. To determine the relationship between predator occupancy and landscape features in beach‐nesting bird habitat, we repeated mammalian predator track surveys 8 times/year at 90 plots in southern New Jersey, USA, from 2015–2017. We used dynamic occupancy models to estimate the probability of use by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and to document changes in habitat use as related to landcover types over the avian breeding season within years. We had 373 red fox detections with years pooled. Detection probability for red foxes varied by year, and probability of use decreased as the distance to the nearest primary dune increased. We found no evidence that red fox habitat use depended on distance to human development. Our results suggest that conserving nesting habitat that includes open areas (i.e., storm overwash [whereby vegetation is scoured by tidal flooding]) may reduce predation risk because beach‐nesting birds would not be forced into nesting close to dunes, which are typically used for hunting by red foxes. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

Analysis of beach and foredune changes by aerial photography and topographic profiles, Tasmania, Australia

Beach foredunes following introduction of Ammophila arenaria have been shown to promote accretion and progradation, but after a few decades, large steep-faced foredunes develop that subsequently erode. Beach profile measurement combined with spatial change techniques have not been applied to investigation of A. arenaria foredune change before. This study investigated two adjacent beaches in Tasmania along 3.4km of coastline, one infested by A. arenaria and the other retaining native vegetation. Dune profile surveys were derived from topographic measurement and LiDAR data, and recent aerial imagery was analysed using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System to quantify net shoreline movement and rates of change. Results showed lack of progradation on the A. arenaria infested beach, with tall, steep-faced, concave foredunes that retreated up to 15m in 10 years. By contrast, the native vegetated beach showed continued progradation, with smaller convex-faced foredunes. The A. arenaria foredunes retreated particularly where the dune toe was lower in elevation. Sediment supply is likely reduced by the tall foredunes with dense vegetation-holding sand, causing storm erosion not to be replaced, hence a lowering beach and dune toe. Future erosion is likely to be a greater risk with sand supply locked into high volume A. arenaria-infested dunes, relative to native vegetated dunes.

Classification of Atlantic Coastal Sand Dune Vegetation Using In Situ, UAV, and Airborne Hyperspectral Data

Mapping coastal dune vegetation is critical to understand dune mobility and resilience in the context of climate change, sea level rise, and increased anthropogenic pressure. However, the identification of plant species from remotely sensed data is tedious and limited to broad vegetation communities, while such environments are dominated by fragmented and small-scale landscape patterns. In June 2019, a comprehensive multi-scale survey including unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), hyperspectral ground, and airborne data was conducted along approximately 20 km of a coastal dune system in southwest France. The objective was to generate an accurate mapping of the main sediment and plant species ground cover types in order to characterize the spatial distribution of coastal dune stability patterns. Field and UAV data were used to assess the quality of airborne data and generate a robust end-member spectral library. Next, a two-step classification approach, based on the normalized difference vegetation index and Random Forest classifier, was developed. Results show high performances with an overall accuracy of 100% and 92.5% for sand and vegetation ground cover types, respectively. Finally, a coastal dune stability index was computed across the entire study site. Different stability patterns were clearly identified along the coast, highlighting for the first time the high potential of this methodology to support coastal dune management.

Do Bottom-up Effects Define The Structuring Of Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Communities In A Restinga Remnant?

Restingas are lowland sandy ecosystems located between mountain ranges and the sea. For living organisms in this ecosystem, restingas can be seen as habitats formed by islands of vegetation separated by a sandy matrix. These organisms are highly influenced by the environmental conditions and physical characteristics of the landscape, including size, connectivity and environmental heterogeneity. Given the recognized effectiveness of ants as bioindicators, this study uses these organisms as a model to assess how vegetation complexity affects ant communities. The study was carried out in the Parque das Dunas, Salvador - Bahia. Within this park, four categories of vegetation islands (Small, Medium, Large and Continuous) were delimited, where the ant fauna was sampled and the forms of vegetal life were analyzed, using the Raunkiaer analysis. A total of 69 ant species were collected from 31 genera and six subfamilies. We found a positive relationship between the diversity of plant life forms (H') and ant richness. In general, there was a significant difference in the composition of ant species in each microhabitat and between the areas of continuous vegetation and the different vegetation islands. There is a bottom up effect mediating the ant community associated with dune vegetation, the local richness of ant species responds to vegetation heterogeneity.

Roles of aboveground vegetation, soil properties, and disturbance in determining belowground bud bank in sand dune ecosystems

The processes whereby vegetation characteristics, soil properties, and disturbance events interact to determine the characteristics of plant bud bank are of considerable significance with respect to population recruitment and vegetation restoration in sand dune ecosystems. However, gaining an understanding of these processes represents a major challenge. In this study, we examined variations in the bud bank demographics of dune vegetation and the role of vegetation, soil properties, and disturbance in determining the size and composition of bud bank during the stabilization processes from active to fixed sand dunes. We investigated bud bank size and composition, vegetation characteristics, and soil properties in the interdune lowlands of active and fixed sand dunes in Inner Mongolia, China. We found that sand dune fixation increased bud bank density. Soil properties were determined to be the primary factors affecting bud bank in the interdune lowlands of an active dune, whereas vegetation density was the most important factor affecting bud bank in the interdune lowlands of a fixed sand dune. Among the different bud types, we found that rhizome and root-sprouting buds were dependent to a greater extent on soil moisture content in the interdune lowlands of active dunes, while in the interdune lowlands of fixed dunes, rhizome and root-sprouting buds had a greater dependence on soil total carbon. In contrast, tiller buds tended to be more related to vegetation density, whereas no evidence showed there was a prominent influence of any factor on collar buds. The mechanisms (vegetation, stress, and disturbance) affecting bud bank demographics are modified by sand dune fixation. The responses of different bud types to environmental factors differ in the interdune lowlands of both active and fixed sand dunes.

Human Disturbances of Shoreline Morphodynamics and Dune Ecosystem at the Puerto Velero Spit (Colombian Caribbean)

Villate D. A.; Portz L.; Manzolli, R.P., and Alcantara-Carrio J., 2020. Human disturbances of shoreline morphodynamics and dune ecosystem at the Puerto Velero spit (Colombian Caribbean), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No.95, pp. 711-716. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Evolution of present coastal environments is controlled by both natural processes and anthropogenic activities, last one causing global, regional and local disturbances. This study analyze the effects of shortage of sediments from Magdalena River and tourism development in the recent shoreline morphodynamics and dune vegetation structure of the Puerto Velero spit, in the northern Colombian Caribbean coast. Shoreline position, dune vegetation and human occupation were taken from the interpretation of satellite images, aerial photographs and field trips. Three methods were applied to analyze shoreline migration. It allowed to deduce trends of very high erosion for the outer neck and moderate to high erosion for the inner neck, while the northern border and the point of the spit present an erosional trend in the outer and inner. Therefore, the outer neck and iner neck show predominance of an erosional trend, more intense for the outer one, while the northern border and particularly the point of the spit present trends of high and very high accretion. It implicates a present progradation of the spit, but a narrowing of its neck. The shortage of coastal sand due to the construction of a jettie at Magdalena River favored the formation of the spit by the erosion of the extinct Isla Verde barrier island, but currently cause erosion of the neck. Erosion of the outer and inner neck is also due to the impact of local disturbances on the backshore and dune system, mainly a rapid increase of occupation and a large circulation of people and vehicles. Dune vegetation distribution is affected by these disturbance, including the presence of invasive aloctonous Calotropis procera over a large area of the dune field. The natural climatic oscillations, particularly the negative El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, also favor the progradation of the spit. The analysis of these disturbances on the present geomorphological and ecological evolution on the spit constitutes an important instrument for coastal management.

Modelling Acacia saligna invasion in a large Mediterranean island using PAB factors: A tool for implementing the European legislation on invasive species

Abstract The present study aimed to investigate the role of propagule pressure (P), abiotic (A), and biotic (B) factors (collectively indicated as PAB) on the suitability of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia (Italy) to be invaded by the tree Acacia saligna, recently included in the list of invasive alien species of European Union concern. To this aim, a binomial Generalized Linear Model was applied for disentangling the relationship between 432 A. saligna occurrence records and 10 thematic layers, at high-resolution (10 x10 m), used as proxies for the 3 categories of PAB variables. The 432 occurrence records of A. saligna were periodically monitored (period 2000–2018) to check the persistence of the populations and their invasive status. The predictive power of the model was evaluated by computing the mean of the AUC scores, through cross-fold validation. The model adequately described how the PAB factors influence the presence of A. saligna which is mainly shaped by abiotic factors such as topography, and biotic factors such as the presence of woody dune vegetation, and to a lesser extent by other predictors. The projection of the model to the whole island clearly shows that suitability varies at the landscape level due to the variation of the PAB across the territory. The probability of A. saligna occurrence near the coast is higher in sand dunes. In the internal areas of the island it occurs close to the roads and urban areas. This study and the tested methodology could represent a suitable tool to prioritize areas for the monitoring of A. saligna to meet the requirements of the Regulation (EU) No. 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species (the IAS Regulation).

Factors Influencing Movement of the Manila Dunes and Its Impact on Establishing Non-Native Species

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being widely used to monitor microtopographic and vegetation changes in coastal habitats using remote sensing techniques. Sand dune habitats are vital ecosystems along the North coast of Humboldt County in California. This study was conducted at the Manila Dunes, west of the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center, in Manila, California. Various factors influence dune movements, including vegetative stabilization and the creation of social trails. The purpose of this paper is to understand the dune movements in relation to social vs. established trails, vegetation density, topography, and also, mapping invasive vs. native species in the Mal-le’l Dunes area of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. A DJI Mavic Pro multicopter small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to fly a 22.5-acre plot of the Manila Dunes. The images from this flight were used to create an orthomosaic image using a photogrammetry process (Structure-from-Motion (SfM)). From our analysis, the installation of trails lessened the impact of dune movements. Social trails digitized within the study site were found to have more local movements than the established trails when compared to movements across the entire site. We compared two methods of classification, viz., the object-based feature extraction method and a pixel-based supervised maximum likelihood classification method, in order to identify the best way to classify dune vegetation. In conclusion, this study is useful for providing baseline dune movement information that can aid in informing how trail and infrastructure constructions can be impacted in land management or in areas with dynamic communities of flora and fauna.

Giant Reed (Arundo donax) wrack as sink for plastic beach litter: First evidence and implication

In order to maintain the hydraulic outflow in land reclaimed canalizations, the competent agencies provide to mechanically mow the Giant Reed (Arundo donax, L. 1753) along the aquatic ecosystem banks. Nevertheless, the reeds mowed can be transported away from the waters following storm surges and can be deposited in large quantities along the sandy beaches. We carried out a stratified study in a Mediterranean sandy beach to test the hypothesis that Giant Reed wrack may act as a sink and barrier for plastic beach litter. We observed a large amount of plastic litter entrapped in the Arundo donax wrack (density of 0.868 items/m2), with a higher density when compared to both the inner and the shoreline belts. Density of litter is significantly higher considering the categories of meso- and micro-plastics. Organic macrophyte wrack is useful for dunal macrodetritivorous invertebrates and generally for fauna communities, which use this litter as refuge and trophic pabulum. Significant accumulations of organic wrack can mitigate coastal erosion; nevertheless, for its structural characteristics, Arundo wrack can also act as a barrier for litter towards the inner vegetated dunes, so entrapping a large amount of anthropogenic litter. In this regard, Arundo wrack can represent a sink habitat, first attracting (due to large availability of detritus with a relative high rate of decomposition) and then, entrapping many organisms in anthropogenic litter. We suggest that, once mechanically mowed, the land reclaimed agencies should periodically remove from the channel banks the Arundo donax reeds, impeding the accumulation of incoherent vegetated matter along the aquatic ecosystem banks.

Growth Characteristics and Anti-Wind Erosion Ability of Three Tropical Foredune Pioneer Species for Sand Dune Stabilization

Rainstorms frequently cause runoff and then the runoff carries large amounts of sediments (sand, clay, and silt) from upstream and deposit them on different landforms (coast, plain, lowland, piedmont, etc.). Afterwards, monsoons and tropical cyclones often induce severe coastal erosion and dust storms in Taiwan. Ipomoea pes-caprae (a vine), Spinifex littoreus (a grass), and Vitex rotundifolia (a shrub) are indigenous foredune pioneer species. These species have the potential to restore coastal dune vegetation by controlling sand erosion and stabilizing sand dunes. However, their growth characteristics, root biomechanical traits, and anti-wind erosion abilities in sand dune environments have not been documented. In this study, the root growth characteristics of these species were examined by careful hand digging. Uprooting test and root tensile test were carried out to measure their mechanical strength, and wind tunnel (6 m × 1 m × 1.3 m, L × W × H) tests were executed to explore the anti-wind erosion ability using one-year-old seedlings. The results of root growth characteristics demonstrate that I. pes-caprae is superior to S. littoreus and V. rotundifolia. Moreover, uprooting resistance of V. rotundifolia seedlings (0.074 ± 0.032 kN) was significantly higher than that of I. pes-caprae (0.039 ± 0.015 kN) and S. littoreus (0.013 ± 0.005 kN). Root tensile strength of S. littoreus (16.68 ± 8.88 MPa) and V. rotundifolia (16.48 ± 4.37 MPa) were significantly higher than that of I. pes-caprae (6.65 ± 2.39 MPa). In addition, wind tunnel tests reveal that sand wind erosion rates for all three species decrease with increasing vegetation cover, but the anti-wind erosion ability of S. littoreus seedlings is significantly higher than I. pes-caprae and V. rotundifolia. Results of root tensile strength and anti-wind erosion ability clearly show that S. littoreus is superior to I. pes-caprae and V. rotundifolia. Taken together, our results suggest that I. pes-caprae and S. littoreus are beneficial for front line mixed planting, while V. rotundifolia is suitable for second line planting in foredune areas. These findings, along with the knowledge on adaption of foredune plants following sand accretion and erosion, provide us critical information for developing the planting strategy of foredune pioneer plants for the sustainable management of coastal foredune ecosystem.

Coastal sand dune vegetation of Velika plaža (Montenegro)

Velika plaža (Ulcinj, Montenegro) is the largest sandy beach along the coast of the eastern Adriatic that still has well-developed sand-dune vegetation. Although the characterization of the flora and vegetation of Velika plaža has been addressed by many authors, knowledge on its vegetation remained poor. We made a phytosociological study of sand beach vegetation comprising both dunal and wetland areas to provide a comprehensive survey of sand dune vegetation and habitat typology of Velika plaža. Based on 149 relevés (both from literature and recent field work), and with numerical classification (Flexible beta) and ordination (Non-metric multidimensional scaling) our results show that the vegetation of Velika plaža is much more diverse than previously known. Altogether, 19 plant communities from 6 vegetation classes were identified. Among them we described two new associations: Cuscuto cesatianae-Phyletum nodiflorae and Onobrychido caput-galli-Vulpietum fasciculatae.

Quint Rusman.

Quint Rusman.

Can sand nourishment material affect dune vegetation through nutrient addition?

In the Netherlands it is common to nourish the coastline with sand from the seabed. Foredunes are replenished with sand from the beach and can be transported further into the dune area. We investigated whether nourishment material alters the phosphorus (P) content of dune soil and the nitrogen (N):P ratio of dune vegetation in two areas: a mega sand nourishment with fixed foredunes (SE) and a traditional sand nourishment with dynamic foredunes (NWC). Four zones were considered: beach (zone 1), frontal foredunes (zone 2), foredunes crest (zone 3) and inner dunes (zone 4). We estimated the characteristics of fine (< 250-μm) and coarse (250–2000 μm) sand. Total P, P speciation and available P of SE and NWC were similar until zone 4. Zone 1–3 consisted mainly of coarse sand, whereas the sand in zone 4 was finer with higher amounts at NWC. Iron (Fe) bound P was comparable for fine and coarse sand in zone 1–3, but high contents were present in zone 4. In zone 1–3, calcium (Ca) bound P was mainly found in the fine fraction, which was abundant in the coarse fraction of zone 4. After a period of 4 years, the effect of dynamic dunes on P fractions and dune plant species was not apparent yet, although inblowing sand mainly consisted of fine sand with high contents of Ca-bound P. This may change over time, especially in dynamic dunes with higher eolian activity of fine sand. Consequently, pH buffering of the soil may increase because of a higher Ca‑carbonate content, which leads to decreased solubility of Ca-bound P and low P availability for the vegetation. Both low P availability and high buffering capacity are known environmental factors that facilitate endangered dune plant species.

Changes of a sand dune system and vegetation between 1950 and 2015 on Velika plaža (Montenegro, E Mediterranean)

The aim of our work is the diachronic analysis, over the past more than 60 years, of the vegetation changes in sand dunes along east Adriatic coast. We made transect surveys to detect zonation of sand dune plant communities and compared aerial photos from years 1950 and 1979 and habitat map from 2015 for landscape changes. We identified 9 plant communities, further classified into 7 EU habitats. The results show an increase of forested areas, mostly pine plantations and urban areas that were absent in 1950s. Significant decrease in area is evident in the vegetation of sand dunes, wetlands, and grasslands due to newly appeared roads, parking facilities, urban and ruderal areas. Roads and touristic facilities are also reason for fragmentation of sand dunes. Study of sand dunes changes shows differences in habitat distribution and spatial extent as results of human activities in last decades. Such historical analyses are important for management and conservation strategies of sandy coasts.

Switching of dominant positions between two sand‐fixing shrub species during the dune revegetation process is underlain by their contrasting xylem hydraulics and water‐use strategies

AbstractDifferences in key physiological characteristics between plant species can result in their contrasting performances in vegetation restoration projects, but ecophysiological comparative studies in close relation to ecological restoration projects are scarce. Hedysarum fruticosum Pall. and Caragana microphylla Lam. are two leguminous shrub species widely used in combination for fixation of active sand dunes in semiarid regions of northern China, but they clearly differ in fitness at different stages of dune vegetation development; that is, H. fruticosum quickly gains a community dominance at the initial stage but yields to C. microphylla in a few years after the fixation of dunes. To reveal the underlying mechanism of such a pattern, key physiological characteristics related to xylem water transport, leaf water use, and drought tolerance were compared between these two species at a typical site of sand dune fixation project in Inner Mongolia. Compared with C. microphylla, H. fruticosum shows an acquisitive and risky water management strategy with substantially higher hydraulic efficiency and photosynthetic capability but reduced resistance to drought‐induced xylem embolism, which endows it an advantage under conditions of relatively high soil water availability at the early stage of dune fixation. In contrast, C. microphylla exhibits more conservative water use and characteristics of greater drought tolerance, which results in greater dominance under the more drought‐stressed conditions of the later stage of dune fixation. Our study for the first time provides a potential mechanistic explanation for the clear switching of dominant positions between the two important sand‐fixing shrub species during the sand dune revegetation process.

해안사구 식생의 침입종에 의한 종조성 변화에 관한 연구 - 진도ㆍ완도ㆍ해남을 중심으로-

해안사구 식생의 침입종에 의한 종조성 변화에 관한 연구 - 진도ㆍ완도ㆍ해남을 중심으로-

Fatty Acid and Amino Acid Profiles in Some Dune Vegetation Species from Istanbul

Dunes are one of the most dynamic ecosystems in the nature and they are considered as a special habitat type hosting valuable genetic resources. Dunes located in Turkey are very rich in terms of plant diversity. Istanbul has special place for the richness of endemic and rare species in its dune vegetations. Biochemical characteristics of some plant species growing in Istanbul dunes, which are under immense threat during the recent years have been examined in the present study. Seed samples and aerial parts of the plants have been analysed for fatty acid and amino acid compositions. The higher concentrations of α-linolenic acid were quantified in Euphorbia paralias (48.24%) and Diplotaxis tenuifolia (24.47%). Linoleic acid concentrations were detected at the higher levels in Xanthium strumarium (68.51%) and Otanthus maritimus (66.62%). Eryngium campestre (44.97%), Cyperus capitatus (44.27%) and Eryngium maritimum (41.88%) were found to have high oleic acid concentrations. 20,32% punicic acid was detected in Ecballium elaterium. The higher concentrations of some essential amino acids were observed in the seeds. Proline is the dominant amino acid in the aerial parts of all taxa examined. Significant correlations between amino acid concentrations were calculated. The data obtained in the present study reveal that regarding plants as novel crops can be efficient for utilization in biochemical and biotechnological applications in many fields such as human nutrition, health and other industrial purposes.

Urban expansion depletes cultural ecosystem services: an insight into a Mediterranean coastline

In the Mediterranean sandy coasts, urban expansion mainly occurs to support seaside tourism, causing a drastic loss of natural coastal dune habitats and the associated ecosystem services. We investigated on a representative tract of the Mediterranean coast to which extent land conversion into urban areas affected natural dune ecosystems and the related recreational Ecosystem Service over 50 years. Using empirical data derived from 591 questionnaires of beach users, we quantified the recreational ecosystem service (ESR) provided by the main dune habitat types of the Adriatic coast (Beach with Pioneer annual Vegetation, Herbaceous Dune Vegetation and Mediterranean macchia). On the basis of detailed multi-temporal land cover maps (years 1954, 1986 and 2006), we quantified the conversion of natural dune habitats into urban areas over time, by means of transition matrices. By combining the results of the assessment of ESR with the transition matrices, we measured how the natural dune habitats’ loss reduced the related ESR supply. Results show that although natural dune habitats have an important role as ESR suppliers, urban expansion eroded them with specific rates, causing a total percent loss of 12% in the ESR. Our work underlines the fragility of natural coastal dunes, which during the last decades have become a privileged destination for touristic and recreational activities and, thus, have been progressively replaced by urban areas, with an unwanted direct impact on their ESR supply. By combining multi-temporal mapping techniques with ecosystem services measurements, we enhanced our understanding of transformation processes on coastal dunes, offering as well new insights for dune management. According to our results, an effective dune management shall favor natural dune zonation, by welcoming sustainable sea-side recreational activities as the only acceptable form of coastal tourism.

Contrasts in xylem hydraulics and water use underlie the sorting of different sand-fixing shrub species to early and late stages of dune stabilization

Dominating sand-fixing shrubs play crucial roles in the stabilization and rehabilitation of sand dunes. Different sand-fixing shrub species often separate along the temporal-spatial environmental gradient during the sand dune stabilization process; however, the physiological mechanisms underlying such a separation remain poorly understood, which limits our ability to identify the causes of land desertification and the cruxes of rehabilitation. We investigated xylem hydraulics and water use characteristics of four important shrub species used for sand dune fixation projects in northern China that show distinct preferences to different stages of dune stabilization, i.e. two species succeed in active dunes and the other two in fixed dunes. The major aim was to examine the roles of xylem hydraulics, water use and the coordination of these two aspects in determining the habitat preferences of sand-fixing shrubs along the process of dune stabilization in water-limited environments. The two active-dune species consistently exhibited higher stem hydraulic conductivity but lower resistance to drought-induced xylem embolism than the two fixed-dune species, which reflects contrasting requirements to shrub hydraulic functionality in sand dunes of the two successional stages that differ substantially in soil water regimes. In coordination with contrasts in hydraulics, they also diverged clearly in water use strategies with the fixed-dune shrubs showing more conservative water use. Our results highlight the critical roles that hydraulics and water utilization play in determining the adaptation of dominating sand-fixing shrub species to their respective environments shaped by the plant-soil interactions during sand dune vegetation development.