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Cited by 52Aeolian processes and effectsEcology and Vegetation Dynamics StudiesCoastal wetland ecosystem dynamics

Global Change and Response of Coastal Dune Plants to the Combined Effects of Increased Sand Accretion (Burial) and Nutrient Availability

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Frosini, Silvia, Lardicci, Claudio, Balestri, Elena·2012·PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0047561PMC PMC3471884
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Abstract

Coastal dune plants are subjected to natural multiple stresses and vulnerable to global change. Some changes associated with global change could interact in their effects on vegetation. As vegetation plays a fundamental role in building and stabilizing dune systems, effective coastal habitat management requires a better understanding of the combined effects of such changes on plant populations. A manipulative experiment was conducted along a Mediterranean dune system to examine the individual and combined effects of increased sediment accretion (burial) and nitrogen enrichment associated with predicted global change on the performance of young clones of Sporobolus virginicus, a widespread dune stabilizing species. Increased burial severity resulted in the production of taller but thinner shoots, while nutrient enrichment stimulated rhizome production. Nutrient enrichment increased total plant biomass up to moderate burial levels (50% of plant height), but it had not effect at the highest burial level (100% of plant height). The effects of such factors on total biomass, shoot biomass and branching were influenced by spatial variation in natural factors at the scale of hundreds of metres. These results indicate that the effects of burial and nutrient enrichment on plant performance were not independent. Their combined effects may not be predicted by knowing the individual effects, at least under the study conditions. Under global change scenarios, increased nutrient input could alleviate nutrient stress in S. virginicus, enhancing clonal expansion and productivity, but this benefit could be offset by increased sand accretion levels equal or exceeding 100% of plant height. Depletion of stored reserves for emerging from sand could increase plant vulnerability to other stresses in the long-term. The results emphasize the need to incorporate statistical designs for detecting non-independent effects of multiple changes and adequate spatial replication in future works to anticipate the impact of global change on dune ecosystem functioning.

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  • Nutrient content in sediments, such as nitrogen, salt, and biota, can significantly affect the performance of coastal vegetation.

    “Nutrient content in sediments, such as nitrogen, salt, and biota, can significantly affect the performance of coastal vegetation (Frosini et al., 2012).”

    From Towards integrated management of sandy anthropogenic shores: Developing tools for the exploration of human-natural interactions (2025) · cites this paper as Frosini et al., 2012

    The Introduction says nitrogen and phosphorus availability can affect coastal dune plant productivity, and the Discussion reports that nutrient addition increased rhizome production in S. virginicus. The paper does not identify salt or biota as sediment nutrients or establish that their content significantly affects coastal vegetation performance; its mention of anaerobic microorganisms concerns a possible effect of severe sand burial. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 26

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Authors
Frosini, S., Lardicci, C., & Balestri, E.
Affiliations
University of Pisa (IT)
Corresponding author
Balestri, Elena
ORCID
Venue
PLoS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2012-10-15
Volume
7
Issue
10
Pages
e47561
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0047561
PMC
PMC3471884
OpenAlex
W2071354949
Cited by
52
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 4
FWCI
2.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (University of Pisa) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Università di Pisa
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Earth-Surface Processes › Aeolian processes and effects
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
Keywords
coastal dune plants, sand burial, sediment accretion, nitrogen addition, nutrient availability, Sporobolus virginicus, clonal expansion, rhizome production, plant biomass, shoot morphology, combined stress effects, global change, dune stabilization, spatial replication
MeSH terms
Food, Silicon Dioxide, Ecosystem, Plant Physiological Phenomena

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