Sandy beach ecosystems: key features, sampling issues, management challenges and climate change impacts

Thomas Schlacher; David S Schoeman; J E Dugan; M Lastra; A Jones; F Scapini; A McLachlan

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0485.2007.00204.x

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Sandy beach ecosystems: key features, sampling issues, management challenges and climate change impacts

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Sandy beach ecosystems: key features, sampling issues, management challenges and climate change impacts

Thomas Schlacher, David S Schoeman, J E Dugan, M Lastra, A Jones, F Scapini and A McLachlan

Marine Ecology, Vol.29(Supplement 1), pp.70-90

2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0485.2007.00204.x

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Abstract

climate change

coastal conservation

coastal management

macrobenthos sampling

sandy shores

Escalating pressures caused by the combined effects of population growth, demographic shifts, economic development and global climate change pose unprecedented threats to sandy beach ecosystems worldwide. Conservation of beaches as functional ecosystems and protection of their unique biodiversity requires management interventions that not only mitigate threats to physical properties of sandy shores, but also include ecological dimensions. Yet, beach management remains overwhelmingly focused on engineering interventions. Here we summarise the key outcomes of several workshops, held during the 2006 Sandy Beach Ecology Symposium in Vigo, Spain, that addressed issues of climate change, beach management and sampling methodology. Because efficient communication between managers and ecologists is critical, we summarise the salient features of sandy beaches as functional ecosystems in 50 'key statements'; these provide a succinct synopsis of the main structural and functional characteristics of these highly dynamic systems. Key outcomes of the workshops include a set of recommendations on designs and methods for sampling the benthic infaunal communities of beaches, the identification of the main ecological effects caused by direct and indirect human interventions, the predicted consequence of climate change for beach ecosystems, and priority areas for future research.

Details

Title: Sandy beach ecosystems: key features, sampling issues, management challenges and climate change impacts
Authors: Thomas Schlacher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
David S Schoeman (Author) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
J E Dugan (Author) - University of California, United States
M Lastra (Author) - Universidad de Vigo, Spain
A Jones (Author) - Australian Museum
F Scapini (Author) - Universita di Firenze, Italy
A McLachlan (Author) - Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Publication details: Marine Ecology, Vol.29(Supplement 1), pp.70-90
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Verlag GmbH
Date published: 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0485.2007.00204.x
ISSN: 0173-9565
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449440202621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology

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