When traveling to the beach for your next adventure pay attention to the dunes. In this post we will talk about what the dunes are, why they are important, the vegetation that can survive on them, as well as the creatures that live on the dunes. Sand dunes are an integral part of any beach ecosystem. They are ridges of sand and sediment that are formed above the high tide line. They are formed by the movement of air across the beach which picks up sand particles and deposits them in an area that has a barrier such as vegetation or a fence. When the wind carried sand hits this barrier the wind speed slows down and the sand is deposited behind the barrier. These coastal dunes are the first line of defense against storms and help prevent erosion further inland as the dunes help slow down the storms energy. High dunes with lots of vegetation are ideal for preventing widespread erosion. The problem is that human activity has reduced the dune areas leaving our coast lines more susceptible to erosion and damage from storms.
The dunes are an inhospitable environment for most plant life and there are only a few that are hardy enough to withstand this environment. Salt spray, high winds, burial by accumulating sand, and heat are the main drivers making the habitat difficult for vegetation. However, without robust plant life a dune cannot survive.
Here is a partial list of some of the grasses and plants you will find on our coasts:
American beach grass
Purple hair grass
Bitter panicum
Seaside little bluestem
Sea Oats
Because of the important role coastal dunes play in the prevention of erosion during storms it is imperative we respect these fragile ecosystems. We must stay off the dunes and make sure we leave all of the vegetation in place. In some places it is illegal to even pick or disturb the vegetation on dunes. Keeping pets under control is also important. Make sure that your dog does not enter the dunes and dig up the vegetation. Another area we can help is to volunteer to restore dunes. These restoration projects help to bring the dunes back to as natural as possible which is the best defense against storms.
Sand dunes are also critical to the survival of sea turtles. When a sea turtle lays her eggs she crawls up the beach to the edge of the dune, digs a hole, and lays her eggs. She will also come back to the same location and lay her eggs on the same beach year after year.
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