A Simple Method of Measuring Beach Profiles

Andrade, Francisco; Ferreira, Maria Adelaide

doi:10.2112/04-0387.1

Cited by 41 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The close relation between geomorphology and short-term coastal dynamics (Andrade andFerreira 2006, Levin et al 2006) stresses the importance of quantitative topographic studies of dune profiles to identify precise indicators, to predict future trends and to define management actions (Saye et al 2005). In our study of foredune ecosystems, values for a number of quantitative attributes expressing distinct features of dune topography (length, height, slope, and complexity) were obtained from field recorded vegetated topographic profiles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine-scale patterns of vegetation assembly in the monitoring of changes in coastal sand-dune landscapes

et al. 2010

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Understanding dune ecosystem responses to multi-scale environmental changes can provide the framework for reliable forecasts and cost-efficient protocols for detecting shifts in prevailing coastal dynamics. Based on the hypothesis that stress and disturbance interact as primary community controls in coastal dunes, we studied the fine-scale floristic assembly of foredune vegetation, in its relation to topography, along regional and local environmental gradients in the 200 km long coastline of northern Portugal, encompassing a major biogeographic transition in western Europe. Thirty topographic profiles perpendicular to the shoreline were recorded at ten sites along the regional climate gradient, and vegetation was sampled by recording the frequency of plant species along those profiles. Quantitative topographic attributes of vegetated dune profiles (e.g. length or height) exhibited wide variations relatable to differences in prevailing coastal dynamics. Metrics of taxonomic diversity (e.g. total species richness and its additive beta component) and of the functional composition of vegetation were highly correlated to attributes of dune topography. Under transgressive dynamics, vegetation profiles have fewer species, increased dominance, lower turnover rates, and lower total vegetation cover. These changes may drive a decrease in structural and functional diversity, with important consequences for resistance, resilience and other ecosystem properties. Moreover, differences in both vegetation assembly (in meta-stable dunes) and response to increased disturbance (in eroding dunes) between distinct biogeographic contexts highlight a possible decline in facilitation efficiency under extreme physical stress (i.e. under Mediterranean climate) and support the significance of functional approaches in the study of local ecosystem responses to disturbance along regional gradients. Our results strongly suggest that assessing fine-scale community assembly can provide insights on the relation between dune vegetation, environmental filters and ecosystem processes. A combination of cost-efficient indicators from dune topography and vegetation is thus suggested as a promising approach to survey, forecast and monitor changes in coastal dune ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine-scale patterns of vegetation assembly in the monitoring of changes in coastal sand-dune landscapes

et al. 2010

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“…This method was and still is used for surveys of short-term morphology changes on Polish dunes (Łabuz 2003, 2009). There are several other tools for this kind of research, including two connected tubes with water inside, where the water table shows the height differences (Andrade and Ferreira 2006). These methods require the work of two people.…”

Section: Emery Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The simple methods are used especially during extreme storm events, when other advanced tools cannot work properly, e.g. during strong wind action, sand transportation, and heavy precipitation, or when accessibility to a global positioning system is impossible (Andrade and Ferreira 2006;Łabuz 2015).…”

Section: Simple Optical Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The field investigation methods may be divided as conventional survey using optical or laser equipment (Delgado and Lloyd 2004;Krause 2004;Andrade and Ferreira 2006;Khalil 2007) and digital GPS receivers reporting proper position in connection with a network of satellites (Andrews et al 2002;Baptista et al 2008;Harley et al 2011;Jeong-Min et al 2013;Montreuil et al 2013a). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of field methods to survey coastal dunes—experience based on research from South Baltic coast

Łabuz

2016

J Coast Conserv

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The aim of this paper is to compare the usefulness of equipment employed for foredune ground surveys in different environmental conditions based on literature and field experience from the Polish coast. This article contains a description of recently used methods of coastal dunes monitoring for management and scientific purposes. It presents issues of coastal dunes mapping that are a part of long-term research conducted along the Polish coast since 1997. The employed methods and techniques are briefly described and evaluated. Subsequently, a description and assessment of these field surveys is provided. The description of techniques is focused on the aim of the research and on the types of morphological coastal forms and vegetation cover. Those full descriptions may allow the choice of a proper method for field investigation suited to the researcher's need. The precision of measurement techniques and collected data is presented. Those data fulfill the need for geomorphologic investigation in coastal dune areas. The described experiences are based on 20 years of investigation of coastal dunes on the Polish Baltic coast, with additional data originating from other field investigations of many global coastal areas.

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“…For a decade after the bleaching event this resort had the only healthy reef full of corals and fishes in front of their beach in the Maldives. The hotel whose reef and beach were saved by the Biorock project turned the power off, with the result that the corals, no longer protected from bleaching by the Biorock process [31,32], suffered severe mortality in the 2016 bleaching event.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biorock Electric Reefs Grow Back Severely Eroded Beaches in Months

Goreau

Prong²

2017

JMSE

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Severely eroded beaches on low lying islands in Indonesia were grown back in a few months-believed to be a record-using an innovative method of shore protection, Biorock electric reef technology. Biorock shore protection reefs are growing limestone structures that get stronger with age and repair themselves, are cheaper than concrete or rock sea walls and breakwaters, and are much more effective at shore protection and beach growth. Biorock reefs are permeable, porous, growing, self-repairing structures of any size or shape, which dissipate wave energy by internal refraction, diffraction, and frictional dissipation. They do not cause reflection of waves like hard sea walls and breakwaters, which erodes the sand in front of, and then underneath, such structures, until they collapse. Biorock reefs stimulate settlement, growth, survival, and resistance to the environmental stress of all forms of marine life, restoring coral reefs, sea grasses, biological sand production, and fisheries habitat. Biorock reefs can grow back eroded beaches and islands faster than the rate of sea level rise, and are the most cost-effective method of shore protection and adaptation to global sea level rise for low lying islands and coasts.

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A Simple Method of Measuring Beach Profiles

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 41 publications

References 3 publications

Fine-scale patterns of vegetation assembly in the monitoring of changes in coastal sand-dune landscapes

Fine-scale patterns of vegetation assembly in the monitoring of changes in coastal sand-dune landscapes

A review of field methods to survey coastal dunes—experience based on research from South Baltic coast

Biorock Electric Reefs Grow Back Severely Eroded Beaches in Months

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