Drivers of dune formation control ecosystem function and response to disturbance in a barrier island system

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 11405
• Main Authors: Sabo, Alexander B, Cornish, Michael R, Castorani, Max C N, Zinnert, Julie C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 18.05.2024; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Accretion; Barrier islands; Chlorides; Coastal protection; Disturbance; Dune formation; Dunes; Ecological function; Elevation; Flow resistance; Habitats; High water mark; Islands; Primary production; Sea level; Sea level changes; Sea level rise; Seawater; Sediment; Sediment movement; Sediments; Soil; Soil characteristics; Vegetation; Water flow; Wave energy; Wave erosion

Barrier islands are landscape features that protect coastlines by reducing wave energy and erosion. Quantifying vegetation-topographic interactions between adjacent habitats are essential for predicting long-term island response and resilience to sea-level rise and disturbance. To understand the eff...