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Based on the comparison of zircon ages with source terranes, they inferred that the likely source for Cenozoic zircon grains was the Eastern Alkaline Province of Mexico, which comprises various volcanic fields of Cenozoic age. Armstrong-Altrin et al. (2021) reported the detrital zircon grain surface features, chemistry, and U-Pb ages in the Chachalacas beach sediments, Gulf of Mexico. Armstrong-Altrin et al. (2020) discussed the U-Pb ages of detrital zircon grains, which we reported from the Chachalacas beach in the western Gulf of Mexico. [Extracted from the article]

This commentary celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Population Geography Research Group (PGRG) of the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers (RGS‐IBG) by drawing on journal papers within Area, The Geographical Journal and Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers presented in the virtual issue by the same name (https://rgs‐ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)9999‐0017.50yrs‐pop‐geography). It presents an introduction to the core research threads within Population Geography over the past half‐century. The celebratory issue and the editorial guide readers through diverse and prolific contributions to Population Geography scholarship within the RGS‐IBG journals across three core themes: the spatio‐demographic characteristics of populations, the mobility that connects these, and emergent characteristics of places. This introduction is only a flavour of a vast and growing body of Population Geography research. Notwithstanding, it indicates how the sub‐discipline has and will continue to shape debates on the study of population change to consider its complex nature, drivers, and consequences. Despite differences in methods and approaches, the sub‐discipline unites to explore populations in space in an applied manner. This issue also highlights fundamental challenges going forward. Calls to decolonise the academy have resulted in questions of the structures through which we work – for Population Geography this means thinking about the diversity of voices, theories, and approaches. The papers in this virtual issue thus provide a grounding backdrop of knowledge as we look forward to many more years of lively debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an abundance of critique in tourism studies, human geography, and the social sciences that takes tourism‐driven depictions of place as its object. Indeed, the problematics of touristic imaginaries tend to fix, obscure, and exclude object‐subjects that more‐or‐less sit familiarly within/out frames of representation. Beyond the frame, beyond critique, there are practices that are less observed – practices that radically challenge the potency of ubiquitous "good life" narratives. This paper draws on visual ethnographic research methods in a frequently photographed but narrowly experienced place. Broome, in the remote Kimberley region of Australia, is an idyllic small urban town with a large tourism economy and operates as a service hub for extractive resource industries inland and offshore. Through the use of picture postcards and participant‐driven photography, this paper presents a narrative of "the beach" that demonstrates the fragility of normative "good life" tropes. By amplifying practices of inhabiting the beach that exceed representational critique and stimulate other ways of authoring place, this paper looks for an activism that resists settling on colonial ways of knowing place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth observation (EO) data, derived from remote sensing and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), have been recently demonstrated to be essential tools for the ecosystem monitoring and habitat mapping, combining high technological and methodological procedures for applied ecology. However, research based on EO data analyses often tend to focus on image processing techniques, neglecting the development of a detailed sampling design scheme needed for an exhaustive habitat detection. This paper shows the results of a novel approach for mapping coastal dune habitats at a fine scale, using a supervised machine learning model, through the combination of vegetation plot sampling scheme, synergic use of multi‐sensor spectral imagery (UAV‐VHR) and environmental predictors (e.g., LiDAR), object‐based image analysis, and landscape metrics analysis. Proposed approach was tested in a protected area, established to preserve notable habitats along the Italian Tyrrhenian coast. A detailed sampling scheme was designed and carried out during spring and summer of 2019, combining simultaneously UAV flight acquisition and field vegetation survey data, collected at high precision positioning. The calibrated classification model achieved an overall accuracy of 78.6% (standard error 4.33), allowing us to accurately classify and map five coastal habitats, according to EUNIS (European Nature Information System) classification, which were further verified through a fully independent validation field survey. Results demonstrate that VHR imageries, combined with specific field survey schemes, can be exploited to train classification models used for the detection of plant communities (i.e., meso‐habitat) and plant species at local scale. Our findings demonstrate that UAV‐VHR data is a valid tool to produce high spatial resolution information in sand beach ecosystems, giving ecology research a new way for responsive, timely, and cost‐effective ecosystem monitoring. Earth observation (EO) data, derived from remote and proximal sensing (e.g. via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – UAVs), have been recently demonstrated to be essential tools for ecosystem monitoring and habitat mapping, combining high technological and methodological procedures for applied ecology. Research based on EO data analyses often tend to focus on images processing techniques, neglecting the development of a detailed sampling design scheme needed for an exhaustive habitat detection. This paper shows the results of a novel approach for mapping coastal dune habitats at a local scale, using a supervised machine learning model, through the combination of a vegetation plot sampling scheme, synergic use of multi‐sensor spectral imagery (UAV‐VHR) and environmental predictors (e.g. LiDAR), Object‐Based Image Analysis and landscape metrics analysis. Our findings demonstrate that UAV‐VHR data are a valid tool to produce high spatial resolution information in sandy beach ecosystems, giving ecology research a new way of responsive, timely, and cost‐effective ecosystem monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surf‐related drowning fatalities are a public health concern in the Great Lakes region of North America, and within Canada there are few beaches with lifeguards and no regional beach safety strategy. This short paper presents the results of a survey completed in the northern hemisphere summer of 2022 to determine the perceptions of beach users at Station Beach in Kincardine, Ontario, a popular tourist beach town on Lake Huron. Results suggest that beach safety knowledge and choice of location to occupy along the beach depend on experience with the beach, with frequent visitors tending to select quieter locations located further from a jetty that can result in a structural rip current. Infrequent visitors tended to be closer to the jetty and selected that location based on convenience (e.g., close to parking), suggesting the need for structural changes to guide behaviour towards safer areas of the beach. Results also highlight the challenges of developing an effective warning system to inform beach users of potentially dangerous surf and currents in the absence of an investment in lifeguards or a regional/provincial beach safety strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chapter 11 treats the biodegradation of plastics, as opposed to the chemical degradation processes outlined in Chapter 8. Chapter 3 reviews three basic scientific methodological approaches to plastic pollution: emission rates, transport models and pollution identification. The list of papers cited in the Reference section of this chapter alone exceeds 200, a laudable marquee of all the chapters of this book. Chapter 2, for example, treats the chemical components (additives) meant to improve the properties of plastics (introduced as an issue on p. 20 of the first chapter). [Extracted from the article]

Ecosystem‐based protection is becoming a viable adaptation option to conventional engineered solutions to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. While the environmental and biological ecosystem services provided by ecosystem‐based adaptation measures such as beach nourishment and/or seagrass plantations are being acknowledged and analysed, less attention has been paid to the social or cultural dimensions of these services. This paper builds upon the emerging body of research that explores cultural ecosystem services in coastal areas and how they are perceived by the people who live, work and recreate in these areas. The aim of the paper is to take stock of and understand public and stakeholder perceptions of the cultural ecosystem services that may accrue through eelgrass Zostera marina restoration in tandem with beach nourishment in southern Sweden. The empirical research is based on an on‐line open‐ended questionnaire in the coastal municipalities of Båstad, Trelleborg, Ystad and Kristianstad. The results demonstrate that virtually all respondents had noticed a change in the coastline in recent years, mainly that the coastline had retreated. While beach nourishment measures were recognized among respondents to counter the shoreline erosion, there was very little understanding of the role that eelgrass plantations can play in creating biodiversity and benefits for society. Still, most acknowledged the importance of making room for water and biodiversity at the coast stating how the coastline was valued for primarily health and spiritual reasons. This knowledge will help local, regional and national decision‐makers and regulatory authorities to make evidence‐based choices for coastal protection, by complementing the analysis of environmental and physical ecosystem‐services with cultural and socio‐economic considerations. Nature‐based solutions such as eelgrass reintroduction or beach nourishment should be tailored to the values, perspectives and perceptions of the local communities to help ensure their continued contribution to biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite imagery is widely used to study beach changes. Studies based on satellite‐derived results predict that by 2100, half of the world's beaches will disappear. Although previous studies have been productive and alarming, the reliability of these findings has not been validated. This study presents an initial comprehensive assessment of the reliability of satellite‐derived beach shoreline changes and concludes that despite the use of state‐of‐the‐art subpixel shoreline identification technologies and water‐level correction methods based on beach profile shapes, the errors in satellite‐derived shoreline positions remain significant. Thus, adequate satellite imagery is crucial for enhancing the reliability of satellite‐derived beach changes. Furthermore, the historical water levels when the Landsat and Sentinel‐2 images were taken exhibited significant systematic deviations and both long‐term and short‐term changes. Consequently, the beach changes obtained through the direct statistics obtained from satellite imagery based on big‐data platforms such as the Google Earth Engine (GEE) are susceptible to systematic biases. The study also concluded that satellite‐derived beach changes based on adequate satellite imagery have distinct, significant, and diverse responses to human activities. Given the current context of intensified human activities and notable inaccuracies in satellite‐derived shoreline positions, fully utilizing satellite imagery to study beach changes can help establish stronger connections between beach changes and human activities. This contributes to a better understanding of beach evolution mechanisms and the need for beach restoration and protection, with multiple scientific, engineering, and social implications. Plain Language Summary: Beaches around the globe are currently facing significant threats due to the combined influence of rapid sea‐level rise and intensified human activities. Researchers have used satellite images to study beach changes, and the results are alarming. Some researchers even predict that by 2100, half of the world's beaches will have disappeared. However, the existing research has mainly evaluated the precision of satellite‐derived shoreline position data rather than satellite‐derived beach changes. Moreover, the identified beach changes are not clear enough to determine the links between beach changes and human activities. Based on all available Landsat and Sentinel‐2 images, this study presents the first comprehensive assessment of the reliability of satellite‐derived beach shoreline changes and demonstrates the distinct, remarkable, and diverse responses of a typical beach to human activities. The study revealed that the water levels when the satellite images were taken exhibited systematic deviations and both long‐term and short‐term changes. Consequently, water‐level corrections to the shoreline positions that were obtained through direct statistical analyses of satellite imagery are essential for reliably studying both global and local beach changes. Finally, adequate satellite imagery is recommended for identifying high‐precision beach changes. Key Points: This paper presents an initial comprehensive assessment of the reliability of satellite‐derived beach shoreline changesBeach changes obtained through the direct statistics obtained from satellite imagery on big‐data platforms are prone to systematic biasesAdequate satellite imagery is crucial for enhancing the reliability and revealing the impact of human activities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small urban areas, due to their specificity (high anthroposphere, multiple forms of land use, variable drainage conditions), are often overlooked in studies on soil erosion and sediment transport that predominantly focus on a large scale. The sediment yield from such small urban areas may greatly vary depending, for example, on the state of the land development. Therefore, its proper estimation is crucial for water resources management, improving urban runoff quality or designing and maintaining local retention ponds. In this study, two different approaches were applied to estimate sediment yield from a small urban catchment of Służew Creek, located in Warsaw, Poland. While the first was based on direct hydrological measurements and field samples, the second (indirect) used various empirical formulas to predict bed load transport (local formula of Skibiński) in the stream channel and the suspended sediment delivery from the catchment (USLE equation, Build‐up/Wash‐off model). The sediment load established according to the direct approach equals 714 Mg/year, of which 83 Mg/year results from the bed load transport and 631 Mg/year comes from the suspended sediment transport. The total sediment load calculated according to the indirect approach equals 579 Mg/year. The relative difference in loads calculated with these two methods is about 20%. This paper combines various established methods into a novel composite analysis of sediment yield. The methodology presented in this study may support the estimation of sediment load in small urban catchments with a heterogenous land use structure. Hence, it may support urban planning and water resources management in such small catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the pressing global issue of water security, exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation. It emphasizes the need for a networked approach leveraging international cooperation to address water security challenges. The "Water Beyond Europe" working group has made significant progress in advancing water diplomacy and security through strategic reports, organizing international events, aligning activities with global agendas, and facilitating major projects. The group's success is attributed to active engagement, alignment with international water agendas, and the publication of white papers that have become key references in achieving international cooperation on water. Challenges include coordinating diverse stakeholders and aligning network goals with working group objectives. Recommendations for future initiatives include maintaining strong connections with international partnerships and aligning activities with strategic directions. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of collaboration in addressing global water challenges and the need to continue and strengthen partnerships for a sustainable and water-secure future. [Extracted from the article]

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Litter pollution on beaches is a growing problem worldwide that threatens marine species and tourism experiences. It is important to establish a virtual geographic environment by simulating the spatiotemporal pattern of litter to enhance our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of geographic environmental elements. This study visualized the spatiotemporal data of litter by type on a total of 1,762 UK beaches on the coastline and offshore islands from 2000 to 2016. Ten major sources of litter—including plastic/polystyrene, rubber, cloth, paper/cardboard, wood (machined), metal, glass, pottery/ceramics, and sanitary and medical items—were investigated in detail. The statistical analysis showed that the overall litter concentration was largely related to the intensity of human activity. Spatially, the hot spots were concentrated in the south, while the cold spots were mostly concentrated along the northern coast of the UK. The significance of the hot and cold spots tended to increase over time. Hot spot and cold spot distribution comparisons of 10 litter types were also conducted. Our results vividly depict the litter distribution in marine environments based on type. A deepened understanding provides clues concerning how to prevent the increasing accumulation of litter and clean litter in marine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the fight against the COVID‐19 pandemic, New Zealand stood out with its ambitious elimination goal and the small death count per capita. The country's strategy included full lockdown measures that were strict by international standards. In this paper we investigate whether New Zealand's strict lockdowns brought significant changes to the dwelling price capitalisation of environmental amenities. Our results show a nuanced landscape. While before the pandemic, Auckland homebuyers were willing to pay a premium for dwellings located adjacent to open spaces, such premium either vanished or became a penalty during the lockdown phases. There was also a significant premium for dwellings within 300 m of beaches. But again such premium either decreases or becomes a penalty across the lockdown phases. In addition, we find a preference for dwellings located further away from Auckland CBD. Hence, some amenities that used to have a positive (or neutral) impact on the price of a property have now become disamenities from homebuyers' perspective after the experience of the pandemic. This paper informs planners, policy‐makers and private actors with a better understanding of the behaviour of Auckland's housing market under the disruptions due to the pandemic and lockdowns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid, long‐term, and robust wetland ecological risk assessment is critical for managing coastal zones. In view of the characteristics of frequent human activities and broken plots in the coastal zone, the traditional assessment method is not fine enough. Satellite earth observation provides an unparalleled source of data for rapidly monitoring and assessing coastal wetland ecological risks through time and across a large spatial range. With the support of multi‐source remote sensing data such as precipitation, temperature, night light, land cover products, etc., a wetland ecological risk assessment method is established in this paper, and the wetland ecological risk is evaluated year by year by a grid. The evaluation results indicate that the ecological risk level of coastal wetlands in Jiangsu Province has shown an upward trend since 2015, with a high ecological risk in the north and a low ecological risk in the south, and the source area mainly appears in the northwest. Meanwhile, the year‐by‐year grid assessment can not only accurately describe the spatial and temporal distribution of wetland ecological risks but also clarify the spatial and temporal characteristics of risk source areas. Additionally, the results obtained by year‐on‐year assessment of consecutive years and clustering and zoning according to the time‐series can better represent the risk status of the time period and exclude the impact of accidental factors on the evaluation results. Although optimization for different types of wetlands can improve the accuracy of assessment, more wetland risk assessment with a longer term and a larger scale, combined with carbon emissions, will provide a basis for global wetland management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the summer of 2019, the Bacton to Walcott Coastal Management Scheme involved the emplacement on to the foreshore of 1.8 million cubic metres of sand and gravel dredged from the submerged sediments of the Palaeo‐Yare in the southern North Sea 11 km off Great Yarmouth. During the following 2‐year period, an active group of collectors identified Palaeolithic artefacts eroding from these sediments, including Levallois cores and flakes, and cordiform handaxes. In this paper, we present an analysis of the lithic artefacts, and consider the relationships between the different elements of the assemblage. We discuss its significance in the context of the Middle Palaeolithic record of northwest Europe and the light it shines on the human occupation of the submerged landscape of the southern North Sea during the later Middle Pleistocene. Interrogation of beach survey data shows the reworking of these sediments to the southeast towards Happisburgh where archaeologically significant exposures of the Cromer Forest‐bed Formation are located. The implications of the introduction of a Middle Palaeolithic assemblage to this stretch of the North Norfolk Coast are considered, highlighting the importance of continuing dialogue between researchers, local authorities and local communities for capturing information and monitoring this critical Palaeolithic resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When brought together, Indigenous and Western sciences offer holism that can strengthen research and monitoring, yet the practices and processes of bridging these sciences are not well understood. We sought to elucidate bridging through a systematic realist review of coastal and marine research and monitoring studies that use methods for gathering Indigenous scientific knowledges and methods for collecting natural sciences data from across Inuit Nunangat (Inuit homelands in Canada; n = 25 case studies). We identified three decision points that shape projects co‐developed by researchers and Inuit communities: research objectives, method bundles (the totality of methods used in a case study), and method sequencing (the order of application of methods in a case study). Example case studies from the review are included to highlight some of the diversity of research pathways available. We discuss areas for further reflection, including method bundle composition, imbalances in method sequences, path dependency and research fatigue, research context, and most importantly, bridging as a relational rather than technical endeavour. We suggest that bridging sciences can, but need not be, a complex undertaking. This paper provides practical details to facilitate cross‐cultural research partnerships at a time of immense environmental and social change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformation has become a prevailing and desirable concept in blue economy literature. In parallel, researchers have been considering ways to effectively engage stakeholders to support just transformational agendas. Globally, coastal communities are already being affected by the inevitable impacts of climate change and changes to the blue economy. These pressures present complex contexts for coastal zone stakeholder engagement. In this paper, I argue that taking a systems integration approach to interacting with stakeholders is needed to support just transformational change. Assessing stakeholder systems and their relationship to coastal resources is imperative for understanding dynamics that may promote or hinder just transformation. Taking an adaptive management approach to working alongside stakeholders through transitional processes, thus building capacity, is needed to generate momentum toward just transformational change. Lastly, I explain how applications of the subsidiarity principle in integrating stakeholder systems can support a just transformational process and can inform more durable transformational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the problem of open gaps caused by differential settlement in the process of constructing sluice buildings in soft soil beach areas, combined with the construction of sluice and supporting facilities in a reclamation project. First, the change rules for the shear strength and compression modulus of soft soil under different consolidation degrees are studied by theoretical analysis. Then, an interaction model for soft soil and pile soil is established using the geotechnical finite element analysis software MIDAS/GTS NX. The change rules for the vertical and horizontal ultimate bearing capacities of a single pile with the degree of soil consolidation are studied. On this basis, a three-dimensional numerical analysis model of drainage sluice, seawall, cofferdam, and foundation soil is established, and the relationship between the degree of soil consolidation and the development of structural gaps caused by differential settlement is obtained. The research results show that the bearing capacity of a single pile increases greatly with the consolidation of soil around the pile and that the gap width between the structures in the project decreases with increasing consolidation. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the prediction of pile bearing capacity in the preliminary design stage and the evaluation and calculation of differential settlement of intersecting buildings in soft soil beach areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many low‐lying coastlines are exposed to overwash and marine flooding during large storm events, and the role of coastal ecosystems in reducing these hazards has been increasingly investigated and reported. This paper deals with the assessment of processes involved in coastal flooding over 2 years and 10 months at Anse Maurice, a reef‐fringed pocket beach located in Guadeloupe Island, in the Caribbean region. Daily maximum marine inundation was assessed using a fixed video system, and a hydrodynamic measurement campaign was organized to monitor local wave transformation through the reef system. The results show that daily highest runups (dHRs) are not linearly correlated with storm events since storm runup intensity is highly modulated by (a) the steric‐induced annual periodicity of sea level which showed minima in April and maxima in September and (b) the tidal level which influenced shortwave propagation on the reef flat (RF). These variables determined the reef submergence, an important parameter involved in wave transformation over reefs. Consequently, different runup responses existed for similar incident wave conditions, but generally wave attenuation ranged between 50% and 80%. Low‐frequency waves were found to dominate the hydrodynamics on the RF for the most intense wave conditions. The upper beach vegetation also reduces the maximum swash excursion at the beach between 1.7% and 42.8% for the observed storms, and thus reduces the potential for back beach flooding. This study demonstrates new comprehensive elements on runup behavior and nearshore processes, at different time scales, on reef‐lined beaches. Plain Language Summary: Small Caribbean islands are highly vulnerable to the coastal flooding hazard and the role of ecosystems in mitigating this hazard is increasingly emphasized. The physical processes involved in beach inundation were assessed at a reef‐lined beach located in Guadeloupe Island in the Caribbean. Pluriannual data sets from a fixed camera and monthly hydrodynamic campaigns were used for this work which highlights the role of various processes involved in wave‐induced coastal inundation (runup) from annual to hourly time scales. Seasonal variations in the expansion of water bodies (called steric expansion) which are triggered by fluctuations in temperature and salinity strongly control the wave runup. On shorter time scales, tides affect wave propagation over the coral reef, directly influencing the residual waves at the shoreline. Thus, low‐frequency waves were found to dominate hydrodynamics on the reef flat for the most intense wave conditions. New results indicate that coastal inundation is greatly modulated by the annual periodicity of sea level, as well as, by tidal level at short time scales. Also, the study shows that the upper beach vegetation can reduce beach inundation. These results bring new elements to understanding wave‐induced coastal inundation in the context of reef‐lined beaches. Key Points: A camera‐derived time series of 2 years and 10 months is used to evaluate processes involved in daily maximum runupStorm‐induced runup is highly modulated by annual sea‐level periodicity and tidal levelUpper beach vegetation reduces the daily maximum runup during storms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quillworts (Isoëtes) represent highly specialized flora of softwater lakes, that is, freshwater ecosystems potentially sensitive to acidification. In this paper, we combine a review of previous studies and our new results to address unrecognized reproduction strategies of quillworts to overcome long‐term environmental stresses. These strategies play an important role in the plant's ability to overcome atmospheric acidification of freshwaters, protecting the plants until their environment can recover. Environmental drivers of recovery of Isoëtes echinospora and I. lacustris were studied in two acidified lakes in the Bohemian Forest (Central Europe). Both populations survived more than 50 years of severe acidification, although they failed to recruit new sporelings. Their survival depended entirely on the resistance of long‐living adult plants because the quillworts do not grow clonally. During the past two decades, a renewal of I. echinospora population inhabiting Plešné Lake has been observed, while no such renewal of I. lacustris, dwelling in Černé Lake, was evident, despite similar changes in water composition occurring in both lakes undergoing advanced recovery from acidification. Our in vitro experiments revealed that the threshold acidity and toxic aluminium concentrations for sporeling survival and recruitment success differed between I. echinospora (pH ≤ 4.0 and ≥300 μg L−1 Al at pH 5) and I. lacustris (pH ≤ 5.0 and ≥100 μg L−1Al at pH 5). The higher sensitivity of I. lacustris to both stressors likely stems from its year‐long germination period and underlines the risk of exposure to chronic or episodic acidification in recovering lakes. By contrast, the shorter germination period of I. echinospora (2–3 months) enables its faster and deeper rooting, protecting this quillwort from periodic acidification during the next snowmelt. Our study brings novel insights into widely discussed environmental issues related to the long‐term degradation of softwater lakes, which represent important hotspots of pan‐European biodiversity and conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand dams are simple and effective structures built across ephemeral riverbeds in arid/ semiarid regions to harvest water within sand pores and increase water availability and quality for rural communities. The complex morphological, hydrological, social, and economic conditions that make sand dams a beneficial tool for water resilience are largely influenced by the siting phase. Proper location of a sand dam can reduce communities' travel time to water points, reduce water conflicts, and increase food security through expansion of irrigated agriculture. On the other hand, a misplacement of sand dams can, at worst, increase disparities in water access and increase local conflicts. To approach a viable siting of sand dams, most projects are developed and delivered with the community through a bottom‐up approach. However, in the case of large‐scale projects, remote sensing and biophysical analysis are the dominant approach, leaving the socio‐economic component at the margins of the siting strategy and eventually affecting the benefits to local communities. In this paper, we propose a large‐scale participatory methodology to sand dams siting, which draws on mixed‐methods connecting the conventional top‐down biophysical analysis with bottom‐up participatory research. We first describe the generic approach developed for sand dams siting in Namibe, a semi‐arid region of Southwest of Angola, then we draw on our case to propose a generic approach to large‐scale participatory siting beyond Namibe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper introduces nature‐based solutions (NBS) and their application in coastal adaptation management. NBS seek to make use of local natural elements and processes in coastal ecosystems, as much as possible, to harness forces of nature for the benefit of society. We focus on soft sedimentary coasts, like beaches and dunes, salt marshes, seagrass beds and mangroves. By shifting coastal management from conventional 'Building in Nature' to 'Building with Nature', NBS can be seen as a valuable alternative to the traditional approach, which is based on hydraulic, civil engineered designs. NBS can be applied in diverse situations and at various scales, from small‐scale (ecosystem elements, a small pond) to large‐scale (entire coastal stretches). The practice of NBS is also valuable for climate change adaptation, when forces of nature will increase. NBS requires a governance setting that makes use of an integrated approach with disciplines of ecology, economy and society working together. But integration is not yet common practise in many countries. We conclude that NBS are a promising alternative to the traditional approach. Because the practise still is relatively young, more field and laboratory projects should be executed, in particular under extreme weather conditions. The future challenge is to build up more stakeholder acceptance and (local) trust in the concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal protection has evolved from focusing on hard solutions such as breakwaters and groynes to include soft or nature‐based solutions (NbS). NbS have been proposed as cost‐effective means to offer long‐term coastal protection and at the same time strengthen coastal resilience and biodiversity. However, projects utilizing NbS for coastal protection have often focused on a single solution and the evidence of improved biodiversity remain equivocal. In this paper, we review solutions traditionally used for disparate purposes – namely beach nourishment and the establishment of vascular plants such as seagrass and dune grass. The main incentives behind large‐scale beach nourishment projects are often the cost‐effectiveness, multifunctionality and dynamic shoreline protection whereas the focus of vegetation restoration has typically been on recreating important habitats and not specifically as a coastal protection measure. Based on previous studies and an on‐going large‐scale coastal adaptation project in southern Sweden, we investigate the feasibility of combining these seemingly dichotomous management strategies to yield a viable physical defense and at the same time strengthen coastal biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality. Given the urgency in combatting biodiversity loss and adapting to a changing climate, management interventions for coastal protection should explicitly incorporate ecological values into every coastal protection measure and seek innovative, integrated approaches that consider both geomorphological and ecological values and the possible complementarity between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The constantly shifting boundaries between land and sea pose fundamental challenges in resolving land‐use disputes at the coast. In the UK, these difficulties are compounded by the fact that multiple agencies and authorities are charged with managing the coastline. This means the coast is a space of legal plurality, subject to overlapping jurisdiction. This paper demonstrates the consequences of this with reference to Whitstable, on the north Kent coast, where customary law and established ("as of right") use is clashing with private property rights concerning the ownership of, and access to, a town beach. Noting that the legal authorities are struggling to reconcile these different rights claims, the paper concludes that the effective resolution of land‐use conflicts on a changing coastline demands legal pliability and, ideally, a reduction in the overall number of organisations responsible for the regulation of the "coastal commons." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remotely sensed digital elevation models (DEMs) and uncertainty‐based geomorphic change detection have become very practical tools for geoscientists, including for coastal research. Through the analysis of DEMs of differences (DoDs) and the provision of DEM quality, it allows monitoring complex landforms and confidently relating the changes observed to environmental forcing conditions. With continuing remote sensing advances, and as some monitoring programmes are reaching several decades of repeated data collection, it is timely to consider approaches that enable the reconciliation of DEMs of variable and potentially unknown quality before their subsequent geomorphic analyses. In this paper, we present an original workflow whereby composite data formed by fusing available measurements over invariant features serve as multi‐temporal ground truths for assessing repeated DEMs. Results of the evaluation enable identification of DEMs of lower quality (bias and precision) and correction of registration error (horizontal and vertical bias), and thus offer the in‐built capacity for estimating and improving change detection levels afforded by the data. The workflow was applied to a freely accessible multi‐sensor: RTK‐GNSS, terrestrial laser‐scanning, drone photogrammetry and multibeam echo‐sounding dataset of high‐resolution topographic and nearshore bathymetric DEMs collected at the macrotidal pocket beach of Porsmilin (France) over the period 2003–2019. Our results show that consistently high DEM precision can be achieved in a long‐term multi‐sensor dataset, but registration errors may be present and can be minimized through co‐registration with the purpose‐built ground truths. Although the study focuses primarily on measuring height discrepancies, which is directly relevant for DoD analysis, we show that the methods can also be used for dealing with horizontal error when high‐resolution imagery is available. Finally, the detailed DEM evaluations presented, in application to a rare dataset documenting beach and shoreface change for nearly two decades, provide original insights on the performance of usual topo‐bathymetric surveying techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a theoretical model for oligopolistic competition in the hotel industry for sun and beach destinations. The aim of the model is to identify in which cases the market structure is biased towards luxury hotels with high‐quality investment levels or towards medium and low‐quality hotels with cheaper prices. The willingness to pay and the number of customers in each income‐level segment and hotels' location are the most relevant factors in understanding the market structure. These determinants of market structure are relevant not only for market participants but also for policymakers with responsibilities in designing tourism policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I examine the intentional act of transforming the colour of one's skin – sun-tanning – by Pākehā at three New Zealand beaches: Papamoa, Mount Maunganui, and Takapuna. Recent debates about the construction of whiteness are outlined before discussing the historical significance of beaches and sun to New Zealand's leisure culture. This paper seeks to de-naturalize whiteness through the disclosure of gendered leisure practices of tanning. Empirical material reveals that Pākehā, who actively seek brown skin, negotiate a number of racialized and gendered ‘truths’ as their sun-tan transforms their bodies. I conclude by arguing that geographers need to be more attentive to the ways in which place constructs particular forms of gendered whiteness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat choice is an important behavior for maximizing fitness. One of the factors involved in habitat choice is preference for habitat substrates. In the context of predatory avoidance, it is adaptive to prefer substrates that are matched to own body color. The ground cricket Dianemobius csikii (Bolívar, 1901) occurs on sandy beaches. The body color of D. csikii resembles the sand of their habitat, which could be a form of crypsis. If D. csikii is not able to choose a suitable habitat background that matches their body color, the crickets incur a high risk of predation. The risk could result in population decline of the cricket. To examine whether D. csikii shows preference for substrates that match its body color, we undertook a two‐choice test of sand or soil substrates after controlling the type of flooring substrates used during rearing. The crickets did not show preference for sand. There was no significant effect of flooring substrates during the nymph stage on the preference. These results suggest that when habitats are fragmented, crickets do not actively choose a cryptic background. There were significant differences in the substrate preference between sexes. These results reflect differences in the reproductive strategies of males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical equations for wave breaking and wave setup are compared with archived shoreline wave setup measurements to investigate the contribution of wind waves to extreme Mean Total Water Levels (MTWL, the mean height of the shoreline), for natural beaches exposed to open ocean wind waves. A broad range of formulations is compared through linear regression and quantile regression analysis of the highest measured values. Shoreline wave setup equations are selected based on the availability of local beach slope data and the ability of the quantile regression to show a good representation of the highest measured levels. Wave parameters from an existing spectral wave hindcast are used as input to the selected equations and are combined with a storm tide time series to quantify the relative contribution of shoreline wave setup to the extreme MTWL climate along Australian beaches. A multipass analysis is provided to understand the ability to capture the shoreline wave setup estimates with and without considering beach slope. The national scale analysis which does not include beach slope indicates there are multiple contributing factors to MTWL. Examples are provided at two locations of differing local beach slope to show the importance of including local beach slope in determining the contribution of waves to MTWL. A tool is in development for further investigation of wave setup for Australian beaches. Plain Language Summary: Understanding how high ocean water levels can reach up the coast is important for designing coastal protection from coastal inundation and erosion. This is particularly important as climate change affects wind and weather conditions and sea level rise with the subsequent modification to the occurrence of the largest storm‐driven water levels. While the height of storm‐driven water levels are well understood for protected harbors and estuaries, new research is providing estimates of how high water levels can reach for coastlines exposed to dangerous wave/surf conditions. This study uses mathematical model simulations spanning ~30 years of historical water levels and ocean waves. Statistical analysis is performed to determine how high the largest storm events will likely reach on natural sandy beaches directly exposed to large wave/surf conditions. The study demonstrates that estimates are very sensitive to local beach characteristics. The paper presents the science behind a tool (which is in development) to allow further investigation of the contribution of waves/surf to the highest water levels for individual beaches. Key Points: Quantile comparison of shoreline wave setup equations versus measurements demonstrates their ability to predict the highest measured levelsNew ~30‐year hindcasts of shoreline wave setup are used with a storm tide hindcast to predict the extreme mean total water level climateBeach slope is shown to be important to the contribution of waves to mean total water levels [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High energy, rocky coastlines often feature sandy beaches within headland‐bound embayments. Not all such embayments have beaches however, and beaches in embayments can be removed by storms and may subsequently reform. What dictates the presence or absence of an embayed beach and its resilience to storms? In this paper, we explore the effect of offshore slope and wind conditions on nearshore sediment transport within idealised embayments to give insight into nearshore sediment supplies. We use numerical simulations to show that sand can accumulate near shore if the offshore slope is >0.025 m/m, but only under persistent calm conditions. Our modelling also suggests that if sediment in an embayment with an offshore gradient steeper than 0.025 m/m is removed during a period of persistent stormy conditions, it will be unlikely to return in sub‐decadal timescales. In contrast, sediment located in embayments with shallower gradients can reform swiftly in both calm and stormy conditions. Our findings have wide implications for contemporary coastal engineering in the face of future global climate change, but also for Quaternary environmental reconstruction. Our simple method to predict beach stability based on slope can be used to interpret differing responses of embayments to periods of changing coastal storminess such as the medieval climate anomaly‐little ice age (MCA‐LIA) transition. © 2018 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandy beaches and their surf zones characterise many of the world's open coastlines. They are important breeding, nursery and feeding areas for many species of fish. Despite the commonness and importance of sandy beach surf zones, the dynamics, space occupancy and diversity patterns of residing fish is in many places poorly understood. The aim of this study was to (1) characterise the fish community structure in 11 simple structured sandy surf zones of the northern Baltic Sea and (2) relate variation in fish abundance and community structure to a set of chosen abiotic variables. Using beach seine, weekly or biweekly sampling was conducted at fixed sites at 10 occasions throughout a summer season. A total of 60,006 fish individuals belonging to 20 species were recorded. Changes in abundance and community structure were mainly driven by the variation of only five species reflecting species‐specific recruitment patterns and different spatial responses to abiotic variables. Dominating groups were Gasterosteidae, Ammodytidae and Gobiidae that together formed 86% of the total adult fish catches. Larval numbers were completely dominated by Gobiidae. Multivariate analyses indicated species‐specific responses to measured environmental variables, most important being a combination of wave exposure, beach slope, bottom roughness, and temperature. The present study shows that changes in fish abundance on simple structured sandy sublittoral beaches in the northern Baltic Sea are large over the course of a breeding season. It also reveals that variation in adult and juvenile fish are driven by a set of abiotic factors that influence on the fish assemblage structure through mainly species‐specific, rather than through generic responses. Unravelling the degree to which the sandy shore fish community vary in the northern Baltic Sea will help in managing coastal environments that are increasingly being threatened by many anthropogenic stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threats to beaches have accelerated the coastal destruction. In recent decades, geotextile tubes were used around the world to prevent coastal erosion, to encourage beach nourishment, and to assist mangrove rehabilitation. However, the applications of geotextile tube in sandy andmuddy coasts have different concerns as the geological settings are different. Applications of geotextile tubes in sandy beaches were mainly to prevent coastline from further erosion and to nourish the beach. However, for the muddy coasts, mangrove rehabilitation and conservation were additional concerns in coastal management schemes.The mangrove forests are natural barriers which can be found on the muddy coasts of many tropical countries. In this paper, the viability of geotextile tubes in sandy and muddy beaches was analysed. The advantages and disadvantages of the utilization of geotextile tubes in coastal management were discussed based on the experiences from the tropical countries such as Mexico, Malaysia, andThailand. From the case studies, impressive improvements in coastal restoration after installation of geotextile tubes were shown. Based on the discussion, several recommendations to improve the application of geotextile tubes were suggested in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroecology of vegetation - Lessons learnt from the Virtual Special Issue Vegetation science has a long history in broad-scale approaches that range from mapping vegetation types and vegetation properties to using plant geographical data to calculate regional properties of plant assemblages (van der Maarel & Franklin, 2013). Macroecology of vegetation is fuelled by recent advances in ecoinformatics, especially the compilation of large vegetation-plot databases. Macroecology uses statistical tools and broad-scale data to understand general ecological principles. [Extracted from the article]

Evaporation has been recognized as a major driving force affecting coastal aquifer systems. However, its effects on subsurface flow and salinity structure have not been investigated in sufficient detail. This paper presents field measurements and numerical simulations of pore water flow and subsurface salinity structure in the supratidal zone of a sandy beach subjected to evaporation as well as rainfall. It was found that evaporation significantly increased pore water salinity, up to 85 g/L, within a shallow layer, approximately 10 cm below the beach surface. The induced density gradient generated salt fingers near the beach surface, which caused local groundwater circulation (i.e., fingering flow). However, unlike inland aquifers, the salt fingering was significantly diminished by tidal action that prompted the horizontal mixing of salt in the beach. The subsequent precipitation (e.g., rainfall) diluted the evaporation-induced high saline plume near the beach surface and drove the plume to migrate downward; the plume gradually dispersed and was diluted along the groundwater pathways. The simulation results indicated that evaporation as well as precipitation at the beach surface induced complex driving mechanisms for supratidal groundwater flow. Depending on the intensity at the beach surface, evaporation and rainfall significantly altered the pore water flow and associate solute transport processes in the supratidal zone of the beach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural outdoor environments provide important settings for children to engage in physical activity. It is unclear if these relationships also exist in preschool aged children.We examined associations between amount and type of neighbourhood vegetation and blue space, proximity to the beach and preschooler's device‐measured movement behaviours.Accelerometer data from 1081 preschool children were processed into physical activity and sedentary behaviours using a machine learned random forest physical activity classification model specifically developed for children under five. High‐resolution aerial imagery data and Geographic Information Systems were used to identify total percentage of neighbourhood vegetation and vegetation components (grass, shrubs and trees) and presence and total percentage of blue space (ocean, riverways and lakes and swamps) for 500, 1600 and 5000 m service areas around children's residences. Distance to the closest beach, patrolled beach, and dog beach were also calculated.Amount of neighbourhood vegetation was inversely associated with boys sedentary time in the 500 m (β = −0.91 min/day, p = 0.006, 95% CI [−1.55, −0.33]) and 1600 m (β = −1.30 min/day, p = 0.001, 95% CI [−2.08, −0.53]) service area, and positively associated with walking time in the 1600 m (β = 0.12 min/day, p = 0.045, 95% CI [0.02, 0.22]) service area. The presence of local riverways was positively associated with girls walking time in the 1600 m (β = 2.34 min/day, p = 0.009, 95% CI [0.59, 4.09]), and 5000 m (β = 1.67 min/day, p = 0.019, 95% CI [0.27, 3.06]) buffer.Distance to dog beach was positively associated with boys sedentary behaviours. Presence of lake and swamps were negatively associated with boys walking, and presence of riverways was negatively associated with girls moderate‐to‐vigorous activities and games and boys running in the 5000 m service area.These findings suggest higher amounts of neighbourhood vegetation and certain types of blue space such as riverways and dog beaches could facilitate positive movement behaviours in young children. Our findings that natural outdoor environments are associated with preschool children's movement behaviours add to evidence which could contribute to policy implications for urban planning and the provision and protection of natural environments within cities. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothesis that equilibrium beach profiles under nonbreaking waves minimize wave energy dissipation was considered by Larson et al. (1999 Coast. Eng. 36 59-85). Larson et al. approached the hypothesis as a variational problem, assuming a priori that the solution (the extremal profile) followed a power law with a freely tunable exponent, which was varied so as to extremize the relevant functional. Here, we revisit this hypothesis and solve the associated variational problem approximately via analytical means, without a priori assumptions on the mathematical structure of the solution. We remark that for the solution to be realistic, the problem formulation must consider additional constraints; for example, the bed slope angle must not exceed the sediment's angle of repose. Incidentally, the solution we derive recovers the power law prescribed by Larson et al., which is in turn backed by a large body of empirical evidence. However, the exponent of the power in our solution is not an arbitrarily free parameter; it depends on the parametrization of the bed shear stress (the main mechanism by which nonbreaking waves dissipate energy), and predicted values of the exponent are supported by previous research. The power law curve derived here agrees well with empirical data from field and laboratory, suggesting that a principle of energy economy may indeed underpin the particular shape adopted by beach profiles under nonbreaking waves. This theoretical study aims at promoting and aiding further tests of this hypothesis. Plain Language Summary Beach profiles describe the sea's depth as a function of the distance from the shore. Waves sculpt the beach profile as they propagate, dissipating energy in the process; nonbreaking waves do so almost exclusively via friction with the seabed. From decades of data collection, it is well known that in equilibrium profiles the depth varies with the distance offshore according to a power law, but the reason for this is much less understood. In this paper, we revisit and advance previous research in order to prove theoretically that the reason may lie behind a principle of energy economy (found ubiquitously throughout nature). In particular, nonbreaking waves appear to sculpt beach profiles into equilibrium shapes that tend to minimize the energy being thereafter dissipated by the waves themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relic coastal landforms (fossil corals, cemented intertidal deposits, or erosive features carved onto rock coasts) serve as sea‐level index points (SLIPs), that are widely used to reconstruct past sea‐level changes. Traditional SLIP‐based sea‐level reconstructions face challenges in capturing continuous sea‐level variability and dating erosional SLIPs, such as tidal notches. Here, we propose a novel approach to such challenges. We use a numerical model of cliff erosion embedded within a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the most likely sea‐level scenarios responsible for shaping one of the best‐preserved tidal notches of Last Interglacial age in Sardinia, Italy. Results align with Glacial Isostatic Adjustment model predictions, indicating that synchronized or out‐of‐sync ice‐volume shifts in Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets can reproduce the notch morphology, with sea level confidently peaking at 6 m and only under a higher than present erosion regime. This new approach yields insight into sea‐level trends during the Last Interglacial. Plain Language Summary: Scientists typically investigate the position of sea level in geological time using the elevation, age, and characteristics of fossil marine organisms living in shallow water (e.g., coral reefs), beach deposits, or erosional features that were formed near the sea level. However, these indicators offer only fragmented, if not only point‐like information in time and not a continuous sea‐level record. To overcome this issue, we use a numerical model that reconstructs the shape of tidal notches (i.e., indentations created close to sea level in carbonate cliffs). We compare model‐generated notch shapes with the real shape of the tidal notch, and we produce a set of continuous sea‐level histories that are more likely to have produced one of the best‐preserved fossil tidal notches in the Orosei Gulf, Sardinia, Italy, carved during the Last Interglacial highstand, 125.000 years ago. Our findings suggest that whether the ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland melted at the same time or separately, both scenarios could reproduce the actual shape of the tidal notch we observe at present. Our findings indicate that the erosion rate during that period was higher than present and the sea level is very likely to have reached up to 6 m. Key Points: Cliff erosion modeling and Monte Carlo analysis indicate tidal notch geometry can offer a continuous record of past sea level variabilityThe geometry of Orosei's tidal notch, Italy can be replicated through simultaneous or asynchronous Antarctic–Greenland ice melting scenariosThe morphology of the Last Interglacial notch is more efficiently replicated using higher‐than‐present erosion rates and a 6 m sea‐level peak [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world's beaches hold an appeal that draws millions of people to live and, each year, millions more to relax and play. However, in the face of this allure fly the strain and consequence of overuse. Increasingly, the imperative to find ways to effectively manage this fragile, finite resource compels science to learn more about this complex, multifaceted system. It is through such understanding that the best hope for effective management lies. In this paper, we look at ways in which researchers study the shore. Specifically, we'll examine this active corner of geomorphology as seen through the lens of the geoscientist, with particular focus on two geomorphic features: the shoreline and the beach. Further emphasis is placed on how investigators have historically, and until today, applied concepts, tools, and methods borrowed from the spatial sciences and, in more recent times, geographic information technologies to the study of the shoreline and the beach. We begin this exploration with a first principal: the definition of shoreline-the boundary where land and water meet. Next, we examine ways in which researchers over the years have worked to generate a suitable shoreline analog or proxy for study. We then follow with a look at how shoreline position is measured-an area where much recent research attention has been placed. Taking matters a step further, we explore the beach, and beach change in three dimensions, looking at how investigators are using geospatial technologies to characterize and analyze change. Finally, we look at various ways in which researchers predict shore and beach changes, by combining spatial analysis and technology with numerical and statistical models. © 2012 The Author. Geography Compass © 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beaches can play an important role in flood defence by providing protection from the wave action. Understanding how beaches respond during storms and how beach profiles interact with waves and tides is very important in terms of the management of flood and erosion risks. In this paper we describe the application of canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to an historical data set of seabed elevations in Duck, NC, USA. The study site is a sandy beach located on the east coast of USA. The data set comprises detailed bathymetric surveys of beach profiles covering a period of over 24 years, and wave conditions measured over the same period, but at a different sampling rate. The structure of the data set and the data handling methods are described. The CCA method is applied using different assumptions about the distribution of wave heights. The results extend previous work by , and demonstrate that the choice of how to describe the wave conditions can influence the quality of predictions made on the basis of the CCA results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the available knowledge on sedimentology, hydrodynamics and five major ecosystem components (microphytobenthos, vascular plants, terrestrial arthropods, zoobenthos, and avifauna) of Belgian sandy beaches. It covers the area from the foredunes to the lower foreshore, takes an ecosystem approach to beaches of this specific geographic area. Morphodynamically, Belgian beaches are (ultra-)dissipative, macrotidal, and wide. Characteristic grain sizes are 160–380 μm. The sand becomes coarser, beach slopes steeper and tidal range smaller towards the south-west, where beaches have also been frequently reshaped by human interference such as nourishment. Beach organisms are highly adapted to this unique environment and can reach high numbers. We show that even on a heavily populated coastline subjected to intense recreational and development pressure, beaches provide critical, yet threatened, habitats. Vascular plants growing near the drift line, on the dry beach and in the embryonic dunes are mostly short-lived and thalassochorous; the most common species include sea rocket ( Cakile maritima), prickly saltwort ( Salsola kali subsp. kali), and sea sandwort ( Honckenya peploides). These zones are habitat to a highly diverse suite of terrestrial arthropods of halobiontic, halophilous and haloxene species; prominent members are sandhoppers ( Talitrus saltator) and dipterans (flies). Microphytobenthos, mainly diatoms, is an important primary producer on Belgian beaches but is not well known. The meio- and macrobenthos of Belgian beaches contains specific assemblages such as the Scolelepis squamata–Eurydice pulchra community of the upper intertidal zone. Birds no longer nest on the beaches itself, but Belgian sandy shores continue to function as important resting and foraging areas for birds such as the sanderling Calidris alba. We identify several human pressures on the beach ecosystems arising from recreation, beach management and fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Even though beach nourishment is generally considered as an environment-friendly option for coastal protection and beach restoration, sizeable impacts on several beach ecosystem components (microphytobenthos, vascular plants, terrestrial arthropods, marine zoobenthos and avifauna) are described in the literature, as reviewed in this paper. 2. Negative, ecosystem-component specific effects of beach nourishment dominate in the short to medium term, with the size of the impact being determined by (1) activities during the construction phase, (2) the quality and (3) the quantity of the nourishment sand, (4) the timing, place and size of project, and (5) the nourishment technique and strategy applied. Over the long term the speed and degree of ecological recovery largely depend on the physical characteristics of the beach habitat, mainly determined by (1) sediment quality and quantity, (2) the nourishment technique and strategy applied, (3) the place and the size of nourishment and (4) the physical environment prior to nourishment. 3. The limited information available on indirect and cumulative ecological effects indicates that these effects cannot be neglected in an overall impact assessment. Hence, for ecologically good practice of beach nourishment it is advised (I) to choose nourishment sands with a sediment composition comparable to that of the natural sediment, (2) to avoid short-term compaction by ploughing immediately after construction, (3) to execute the nourishment in a period of low beach use by birds and other mobile organisms, (4) to choose a number of smaller projects rather than a single large nourishment project and (5) to select the nourishment technique with respect to the local natural values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questionnaires were completed by 2306 beach users at 19 Welsh beaches with respect to beach selection parameters. The modal group of respondents was female aged 30–39. Beach choice was primarily determined by clean litter-free sand and seawater, followed by safety. Refreshment facilities and beach awards were deemed minor considerations by the public when choosing a beach to visit. Approximately 58 per cent of respondents were aware of beach award and rating schemes. Of coastal visitors interviewed for this paper, 67 per cent rated a beach as ‘important’ or ‘very important’ to their holiday, with just 2 per cent replying that they were unimportant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The geological record of past wind conditions is well expressed in the coarse gravel, cobble and boulder beach deposits of Quaternary palaeolakes in the Great Basin of the western USA and elsewhere. This paper describes a technique, using the particle-size distribution of beach deposits, to reconstruct palaeowind conditions when the lakes were present. The beach particle technique (BPT) is first developed using coarse beach deposits from the 1986–87 highstand of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, combined with instrumental wind records from the same time period. Next, the BPT is used to test the hypothesis that wind conditions were more severe than at present during the last highstand of Lake Lahontan (≈ 13 ka), which only lasted a decade or two at most. The largest 50 beach clasts were measured at nine beach sites located along the north, west and south sides of Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake, all of which formed in 1986–87. At these sites, the largest clast sizes range from 10 to 28 cm (b-axis), and fetch lengths range from 25 to 55 km. Nearshore wave height was calculated by assuming that the critical threshold velocity required to move the largest clasts represents a minimum estimate of the breaking wave velocity, which is controlled by wave height. Shoaling transformations are undertaken to estimate deep-water wave heights and, ultimately, wind velocity. Wind estimates for the nine sites, using the BPT, range from 6·5 to 17·4 m s-1 , which is in reasonable agreement with the instrumental record from Salt Lake City Airport. The same technique was applied to eight late Pleistocene beaches surrounding the Carson Sink sub-basin of Lake Lahontan, Nevada. Using the BPT, estimated winds for the eight sites range from 9·7 to 27·1 m s-1 . The strongest winds were calculated for a cobble/boulder beach with a fetch of 25 km. Instrumental wind records for the 1992–99 period indicate that... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, beach cusp characteristics were explored using 15 months of 3D lidar scans collected hourly at the Field Research Facility in Duck, NC. Fourier analyses were performed on lidar‐derived beach elevation contours to generate spatial cusp spectra. Active cusp events were identified on the basis of the location and magnitude of each spectrum's peak and used to evaluate conditions during cusp formation and evolution. Cusps primarily developed during times with normally‐incident, long period, low energy wave conditions with low frequency spread, and reflective beach conditions. The upper and lower beaches often exhibited different behavior and morphologies, with persistent upper‐beach cusps lasting days to months and dynamic lower‐beach cusps evolving over individual tidal cycles. At times, beaches exhibiting multiple cusp systems reverted to a single cusp system extending over the entire beach when the high‐tide waterline reached the upper‐beach cusps, with the location and spacing of the resulting lower‐beach cusps controlled by the upper‐beach cusps. These observations are consistent with a "morphological coupling" hypothesis proposing that hydrodynamic‐morphodynamic feedbacks between the swash and upper‐beach cusps can result in the formation of lower‐beach cusps with a related wavelength as the tide falls. However, there were also times when the high‐tide waterline reached the upper‐beach cusps that did not result in a unified beach state. These results suggest that while morphological coupling is often an important factor in controlling the development of new lower‐beach cusps, this coupling cannot initiate cusp formation in hydrodynamic conditions outside those favorable for cusp activity. Plain Language Summary: Beach cusps, rhythmic topographic features that form near the waterline, are frequently observed on beaches around the world. Although beach cusps are common, collecting a high resolution, long‐duration observations of cusps and the associated environmental conditions is difficult, leaving open questions regarding the dynamics of cusp events and the range of conditions in which cusps form. Here, hourly lidar scans were used to analyze the characteristics of beach cusp events using approximately 15 months of data collected over 20 months. Cusps formed primarily during times with small waves approaching from directly offshore with long, consistent wave periods. Cusp fields with different physical characteristics were often observed on the upper and lower portions of the beach, with cusps on the upper beach generally lasting days to months, and cusps on the lower beach evolving on the scales of individual tidal cycles. Times when the high tide reached the upper‐beach cusp system often resulted in the unification of the two systems. However, this unification did not occur every time the high tide reached the upper cusps, suggesting that the presence of upper cusps alone is not sufficient to induce cusp growth on the lower beach in conditions that are not conducive to cusp activity. Key Points: The characteristics of beach cusp formation and evolution were analyzed using an hourly terrestrial lidar data set collected over 15 monthsBeach cusps primarily formed during times with normally‐incident, long period, low energy wave conditions with low frequency spreadDifferent morphologies were often seen on the upper and lower beaches, with upper‐beach cusps generally lasting longer than lower‐beach cusps [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal communities and their landscapes are subject to constant change, and today face new challenges as a result of climate change and the sustainable energy transition. To ensure the resilience of coastal communities to ongoing changes in the natural and constructed environment, it is imperative that planners and other decision‐makers understand the importance of local places to residents.We used an interdisciplinary, mixed‐methods approach to study relationships between coastal residents and places in south Co. Wicklow, Ireland, introducing the concept of 'affective engagement'. Grounded in new materialist theory (notably actor–network theory), this term connects the meaning derived by residents from their relationships with coastal places ('affect') to the extent of their material interactions ('engagement'). 'Affect' was determined from thematic analysis of interviews and open questionnaire responses, as well as place attachment scales included in the questionnaire. Measures describing the strength of the relationship between residents and coastal places were used as a proxy for 'engagement'.To understand how experienced meaning and material interaction interlink, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to join and visually explore the different measures of 'affect' and 'engagement'. Potentially mediating sociodemographic variables were investigated using a permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA).The majority of self‐selected study participants displayed strong place attachment to their most frequently visited places. We found that affective engagement does not vary with age, gender or type of place. Participants favoured natural and constructed places in equal measure. This implies that constructed places can be of high value due to their different functions for different individuals, and that landscape transformations may impact on coastal residents if they cause a change in functionality.We found two domains comprising affective engagement that are not measurable by quantitative or qualitative data alone. The first of these domains is driven by attachments to places, and the other by meanings relating to either personal or social fulfilment afforded by a place.Our findings may help planners better understand the meanings behind local support for (or resistance against) landscape transformations, and how residents' affective engagement might be impacted by proposed interventions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motorized trawling was banned off part of the Brazilian coast in 1990 due to environmental impacts, thus artisanal fishermen adopted large beach seines as an alternative. No impact assessments have been conducted on any species; therefore, we examined the life history and stock status of shorthead drum, Larimus breviceps, a primary bycatch in tropical shrimp fisheries. Between 2016 and 2017, 969 shorthead drum were collected and analyzed using ELEFAN‐based models. Females were larger, more abundant, and older than males. Capture rates of juvenile were high, and no mega‐spawners were found. Integrated stock assessment indicated slight overexploitation and growth overfishing. Increased yield per recruit was indicated by high length at first capture. Shorthead drum segregate ontogenetically by size. Growth, mortality, and longevity may be temperature‐influenced. We found that beach seine fisheries may impact shorthead drum by population depletion and potential disruptions to reproductive capacity and recommend further studies and management to improve sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenotypic plasticity is thought to be beneficial for species when introduced to a new range, increasing their proficiency in colonising and expanding into new environments. It has been hypothesised that an increase in phenotypic plasticity can be selected for when introduced to a new range.We set out to determine whether there was greater phenotypic plasticity in introduced populations of Arctotheca populifolia, compared with their native source population.We compared levels of phenotypic plasticity in four introduced Australian populations with the one identified source population from South Africa, across two separate glasshouse experiments that varied availability of (i) nutrients and (ii) water. Phenotypic plasticity was assessed at the population level for 13 individual traits, and across a suite of traits using a meta‐analysis to determine whether there was an overall difference in plasticity between ranges.The Australian populations had a significantly lower composite plasticity in response to nutrient availability (−0.56 [95% CI: −0.99; −0.13]), as well as lower plasticity in response to water availability, though this was not significant (−0.36 [95% CI: −0.80; 0.07]).Synthesis. Contrary to our expectations, A. populifolia has lower phenotypic plasticity in its introduced range than in its native range. This may have resulted from founder effects, or from rapid changes in plasticity due to selective pressures differing between the native and introduced ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea turtle nesting activity on newly monitored beaches yield important data to support future regional and global conservation assessments. Here, we report on nesting activity of Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) at Cascajilloso beach in Pacific Panama based on data from a new hatchery during seasons 2019, 2020 and 2021. Further to this, we conducted a field experiment analyzing the effects of artificial shade versus unshaded treatments on hatchlings' biometric characteristics, hatching success, incubation success and the incubation period. The analyses of three seasons showed that nesting activity, based on number of egg clutches transferred to the hatchery, reached a peak between September (33%) and October (25%). Curved carapace length (CCL) of nesting females (64.3–66.2 cm) was similar to other populations of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). The number of eggs clutches were 80 in 2019, 73 in 2020 and 108 in 2021; however, the clutch size was slightly smaller (93.92 ± 18.78 eggs) compared with other populations of the ETP. This could be a phenotypic variation of nesting females at this beach. The ability to move egg clutches to the hatchery was affected during 2020 season due to COVID19 restrictions. Heavy rainfall during the incubation period caused a reduction in ambient temperature resulting in cooler (maximum average 29.9°C) nest temperatures registered under artificial shade and unshaded treatments. This could result in males hatchlings during the 2020 season. The warmer temperatures in our experimental nests produced heavier hatchlings contrary to general assumptions, but this was also related to straight carapace length only after a threshold value of 40 mm. Hatchlings under the artificial shade were able to grow to a certain size but potentially at the costs of storing less mass (trade‐off). Ongoing beach patrolling and hatchery management techniques with long‐term baseline data collection are needed to secure the nesting population of L. olivacea in this recently surveyed beach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]