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Ammophila Invasion Ecology and Dune Restoration on the West Coast of North America
- Source :
- Diversity, Vol 13, Iss 629, p 629 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2021.
-
Abstract
- The invasive ecosystem engineer Ammophila arenaria, native to Europe, was first introduced to California (USA) in 1896. More than a century later, it has come to dominate coastal foredune vegetation on the west coast of North America to the near exclusion of native species. A. arenaria builds a narrow, steep, peaked, and densely vegetated foredune, in contrast to the broad, more sparsely vegetated foredunes built by the native Elymus mollis. As such, it has modified dune processes by fixing the foredune and disrupting exchange of sediment between the beach, foredune, and dunefield. In the 1930s the congener A. breviligulata, native to the east coast and Great Lakes USA, was first introduced to Oregon, and has been displacing A. arenaria in southern Washington. Ammophila spp. have drastically reduced biodiversity, outcompeting native plant species, and displacing both invertebrate and vertebrate species. Restoration of west coast dunes through the removal of Ammophila began in the 1990s. Methods usually consist of one or a combination of manual digging, burning/herbicides, or excavation with heavy equipment. There are benefits and disadvantages to each method. Manual removal has proven most effective at restoring foredune form and process but is expensive. Excavation and herbicides may result in the loss of foredune morphology. Managers must articulate goals carefully before selecting restoration methods.
- Subjects :
- Foredune
dune restoration
Ecology
biology
dunes
QH301-705.5
Ammophila breviligulata
Ecological Modeling
Ammophila arenaria
Introduced species
Vegetation
Native plant
biology.organism_classification
Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
Invasive species
Ecosystem engineer
invasive species
ecosystem engineer
Geography
Biology (General)
Nature and Landscape Conservation
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14242818
- Volume :
- 13
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Diversity
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....852ded4d4eb33cc9d2d3a2976b51cca8
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/d13120629