Proposal for new EU habitats associated with coastal dune fields of the Macaronesian region. A case study in the Canary Islands (Spain)

Abstract

The aim of this work is to identify habitats of European interest for the existing dunes in the Canaries, in order to provide data for their proper management. Dune systems considered were the following: aeolian sedimentary systems that cover both most of the island of La Graciosa and also the dune fields of Maspalomas (Gran Canaria) and Corralejo (Fuerteventura). The methodology consisted of overlapping layers of habitats and vegetation by using geographic information systems, so the correspondence between habitat and plant community are analyzed. The results indicate that dune habitats in the Canary Islands have not been well defined. The habitat B2110 embryonic shifting dunes^is associated with several situations incompatible with their biotic and abiotic characteristics. Meanwhile, habitat B2130 fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes)^is linked, among others, to the phytosociological association Traganetum moquinii. However, embryonic dune formation in the Canaries is mainly done by this community, which is inconsistent with its inclusion in the grey dunes habitat. The proposed habitats of European interest associated with dunes in the Canaries are the following: Coastal shifting dunes with Traganum moquinii, dunes with Tamarix canariensis, Macaronesian aeolian sand sheets and humid dune slacks. It is also suggested the need for a comprehensive study of dune habitats existing in the Canaries and Macaronesia, covering the whole of aeolian sedimentary systems, performing a proper identification, characterization and detailed mapping of these habitats, based on both the existing vegetation and also on the associated landforms and geomorphic processes.

Effects of fencing project on wind erosion reduction in Alpine grassland and its impact on the development of climbing dunes in southern Tibetan Plateau

“…The fixation of dunes is the primary requirement for vegetation growth (Maun, 2009). Hernandez Cordero, Perez Chacon Espino and Hernandez Calvento (2006) suggested that a stable sandy substrate can promote the settlement of vegetation propagules and provide a stable soil environment for seed germination and growth, and they confirmed that the increase of vegetation coverage on the dunes is linked to the formation of the reduced sand source area. The combination of sediment supply and wind energy is the first driving force for the development of dunes (Aagaard, Orford, & Murray, 2007).…”

Geomorphological control of habitat distribution in an intermittent shallow saline lake, Gallocanta Lake, NE Spain

“…Finally, regarding findings made by other related previous works, the influence of geomorphological processes on aquatic ecosystems has been broadly studied in rivers where process domains have been identified based on distinct geomorphological factors (Tooth and Nanson, 2000;Larsen and Harvey, 2010;Horacio et al, 2018;Kellner and Hubbart, 2019). Such joint criteria have also been applied in coastal marine environments (Borja et al, 2008;D'Alpaos, 2011), as the high level of dynamism conditions the pioneer species and establishment of the different habitats (Ranwell, 1972;Semeniuk, 2007;Dolan et al, 2012;Morris et al, 2015;Hernández-Cordero et al, 2015;Tecchiato et al, 2015;Ruiz-Fernández et al, 2017). In marine coastal areas active sedimentary forms are dependent on vegetation as an obstacle to wind and tidal fluxes (Bridge and Demicco, 2008), and for buffering erosion and flood risk (French et al, 2016).…”

Procedure to automate the classification and mapping of the vegetation density in arid aeolian sedimentary systems

“…Although there is currently aeolian remobilization, the landforms showing substantial levels of sediment transport, such as ripples, are fairly insignificant, so semi-stabilized aeolian sand sheets and nebkha dunes predominate, stabilized by vegetation specimens. The dominant vegetation is made up of shrub and herbs of halophilous, psammophilous and xerophilous species, such as Traganum moquinii , Salsola vermiculata , Launaea arborescens , Ononis hesperia , Polycarpaea nivea , Euphorbia paralias , and Ononis tournefortii (González et al, 1996; Hernández-Cordero et al, 2015a; Pérez-Chacón et al, 2010). Vegetation cover, in turn, is significant, and in some winters covers more than half of the surface area of the island’s aeolian systems.…”