The late Quaternary stratigraphy of coastal dunes and associated deposits in southern Africa

Coastal sand dune sediments with associated intraformational aeolianite, palaeosols and beachrock are found throughout much of the southern African coast, and have important roles as both Quaternary environmental archives and in recording the interplay of sediment supply, coastal processes and sea-level change. This paper examines the stratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental significance of coastal sand dunes and associated sediments, using examples mainly from South Africa but also with reference to the sandy coasts of Namibia and southern Mozambique. Based on morphological, sedimentary and dating evidence reported in the diverse literature, the stratigraphic relationship of coastal sand dune sediments to Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) is summarized, and a chronostratigraphic diagram for the period MIS 6 to 1 along the South African coast is used to identify spatially coherent sedimentary units that correspond to different regional climatic and sea-level phases. This framework provides a stratigraphic context to better examine the relationship between coastal sand dunes and external forcing during the late Quaternary in southern Africa, and to guide future field studies.

Elaeagnus umbellata (autumn olive).

E. umbellata is an important deciduous shrub which reaches up to 5 m high and 10 cm in d.b.h. It is found in thickets and sparse woods of Japan, Korea and China. E. umbellata is a shade intolerant pioneer tree and is also commonly found along riversides and seashores in Japan. This species is growing in humid areas with 1000-4000 mm of annual rainfall in Japan. In China it is reported to grow even in semi-arid areas of Nei Menggu, Gansu and Shaanxi province, where annual rainfall is around 400 mm (Niu, 1990). E. umbellata can fix nitrogen and it is tolerant to salt winds, this species is therefore used for fixation of coastal sand dunes in Japan, and is frequently planted mixed with Pinus thunbergii as a soil improving tree. E. umbellata is also planted in eroded areas of mountainous zones to re-establish and develop vegetation. In China, E. umbellata is occasionally cultivated in gardens (Zhang, 1997).

Effect of coastal dune restoration on the population of endangered Mongolian racerunner (Eremias argus) in the Republic of Korea

The endangered species Mongolian racerunner (Eremias Argus), with a limited distribution in South Korea, is found only in sand dunes near waterside and forests. Therefore, species trends in this particular habitat are directly affected by habitat contamination and destruction. In this study, we examined the effects of coastal sand dune restoration on the distribution and population of E. argus. We conducted a field survey in Baramarye special protection zone, called Baramarye Coast, a part of the Taeanhaean National Park, during April and June 2016. We searched and recorded the location of E. argus and tagged them using the toe clipping method. The size of the E. argus population was estimated using the Peterson method. After the restoration of coastal sand dunes in Baramarye Coast, the population size of E. argus increased by 126–137 (21.1–55.7%) compared with that in 2008. The home range of E. argus in coastal sand dunes was significantly expanded by 4.8-fold for 95% Kernel density (KD) and 3.6-fold for 50% KD compared with that in 2008. Moreover, we confirmed that the distribution of E. argus was expanded to the restored area. Our study showed that in situ conservation is effective for endangered E. argus, distributed in particular environments such as coastal region. This study provides one more reason why coastal region must be conserved.

Contar histórias de dunas na escola: o litoral e as mudanças ambientais

Na Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa, uma equipa interdisciplinar está a desenvolver um projeto europeu sobre dunas costeiras. Estes ambientes vistos geralmente como simples “montes de areias” são ecossistemas importantíssimos na dinâmica litoral e têm muitas histórias para contar. Com o objetivo de contribuir para a disseminação da ciência e fomentar a educação ambiental, foi proposto aos professores de uma turma do ensino básico a realização de um trabalho conjunto, para abordar o tema das dunas e desenvolver conteúdos que permitam a sua divulgação nas escolas. O que se apresenta neste artigo é justificação dessa proposta e os materiais que vão ser trabalhados. Espera-se que a experiência, depois de testada, possa ser replicada com outras turmas e grupos etários. At the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon (Portugal), an interdisciplinary team is developing a European project on coastal sand dunes. These environments usually seen as simple “piles of sand” are very important coastal ecosystems and have many stories to tell. In order to foster science dissemination and environmental education, it was proposed to the teachers of a high school class to work together with researchers to develop content that allows the diffusion of dunes literacy at schools. This article presents the justification of this proposal and the materials that will be worked. This experience, once tested, is expected to be replicated with other classes and age groups.