Contribution to the phytoecological study of the biodiversity of the dune cord of El-Mesrane in the Wilaya (Province) of Djelfa in Algeria

The various dune fixation actions began in 1982 in the study area (El Mesrane –Djelfa) at the level of the dune ridge with very interesting results, on the one hand for the control of desertification through the creation of a microclimate that ensures the ecological sustainability of fragile ecosystems. This work was carried out in the two projects (1) and (2) in the study area. The objective of the study is summarized in the floristic and ecological char-acterization of the vegetation subject to fixation and other left without fixa-tion or natural regeneration. These dunes have a poorer floristic diversity than those fixed by Retama Retam webb and Tamarix gallica. A significant diversity of 26 species was encountered on dunes naturally fixed by vegeta-tion.The Shannon-Weiner diversity index for the vegetation of natural fixa-tion was found to be H’= 2.05; however, this index for dunes naturally fixed by Retama retam and Tamarix gallicawas 2,61 and 2,5, respectively. In gen-eral, dicotyledonous plant families such as the Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae were mostly encountered. Moreover, the distribution of biologic types is mainly characterized by the predominance of Chamephytes and The-rophytes. The degradation of the environment due to the anthropogenic pressure favors the high presence of Therophytes. These findings allowed deducing that the degradation of vegetation is mainly attributed to climatic conditions and overgrazing.

Fifteen years of habitat, floristic and vegetation change on a pioneer sand-dune and slack system at Ainsdale, north Merseyside, UK

Changes in habitat, floristics and vegetation between 2005 and 2019 were studied on 2.9 ha of sandy foreshore near Ainsdale-on-Sea, north Merseyside. Named the ‘New Green Beach’, the site initially supported saltmarsh vegetation but, within five years, a 30-35 m-wide embryo dune ridge had formed, eventually 3.5 m high, backed by a 300 x 30 m seasonally flooded, calcareous dune-slack. The latter was colonised by pioneer slack plants, after which it rapidly developed areas of tall-herb fen and Alnus/Salix carr, while saltmarsh plants declined. During succession, species recorded as ‘rare’ became fewer in number while a higher frequency of ‘abundant’ taxa was recorded. The number of vascular plants listed annually increased from one in 2005 to 154 in 2019, though the rate of addition of new plants fell after 2010. Overall, 246 taxa were identified during the study. Only 9% of these were non-native, 17% being regionally or nationally notable, including 16 Red-listed species. Very poor statistical fits were obtained to recognised UK National Vegetation Classification vegetation types. Analysis of Ellenberg Indicator Values for salinity, nitrogen, moisture and reaction showed that the plant community became progressively adapted to low salinity, lower fertility, drier conditions and a less basic soil. The findings are discussed in relation to comparable studies elsewhere in Britain and Northern Europe. The rate of succession on the New Green Beach seems remarkably high, while evidence of declining soil fertility over time was unexpected.

Analysis of Replicability of Conservation Actions across Mediterranean Europe

In the Regional Park of Las Salinas and Arenales of San Pedro del Pinatar, in southeastern Spain, an environmental restoration and conservation project is being developed whose principle actions include adaptation of hillocks with a saline substrate to improve the reproduction habitat of aquatic birds and increasing the production of salt, dune restoration and conservation, protection of the first dune ridge through the collection of seagrass tops, and designing and implementation of a salt quality seal, which may be useful for reproduction in other sites in the Natura 2000 network, especially in the European Mediterranean area and in the Black Sea environment. The objective of this research study was to analyse and locate the sites that could possibly replicate the actions of the project. In order to do this, spatial databases were used from the Natura 2000 network, salt flats, and marshes as well as Ramsar sites and SPAMI sites, and from them a shape file of points was created in the places with the presence of maritime dunes associated with marsh systems/salt flats. One hundred thirty-one sites in the Natura 2000 network were located, of which in 105 cases, one or more of the four actions considered in this research study can be replicated. Of these, 24 cases have active or recently abandoned salt flats in which the two main actions of the project can be replicated, and 11 of these sites meet characteristics for the replicability of the four actions, of which three have not been implemented by the LIFE projects developed on those sites.

NATURE-BASED DYNAMIC REVETMENT CONSTRUCTION AT NORTH COVE, WASHINGTON, USA

A dynamic revetment was constructed at North Cove, Washington, USA in December 2018 along a historically eroding 2-km shoreline reach of coastal barrier at the northern entrance to Willapa Bay. The revetment is composed of poorly sorted angular quarry rock ranging in size from pea gravel to small boulders as well as large wood debris and structures, a dune ridge, and native vegetation integrated with the revetment. The design, aim, and maintenance of the dynamic revetment is to simulate the functions of naturally forming cobble berms along composite beaches in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The dynamic revetment continues to be adaptively constructed over time, enabling the testing of innovative design approaches and concepts that are rarely possible to do at full-scale in the field. The project provides a unique opportunity to explore nature-based engineering principles and design features.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/5w18tEjEePg

Report on Birds Banded in the Dune-ridge Forest, Delta Marsh, Manitoba, 1973-1988

Report on Birds Banded in the Dune-ridge Forest, Delta Marsh, Manitoba, 1973-1988

Changes in Nesting Density of Baltimore Orioles (1976-1995) and Other Species in the Dune- Ridge Forest, Delta Marsh, MB: Response to an Outbreak of Forest Tent Caterpillar?

Changes in Nesting Density of Baltimore Orioles (1976-1995) and Other Species in the Dune- Ridge Forest, Delta Marsh, MB: Response to an Outbreak of Forest Tent Caterpillar?

ACCUMULATION-DEFLATIONARY PROCESSES ON MARINE SAND BARS COASTS OF THE SOUTHERN-EAST BALTIC

Modern accumulative and deflation forms of a coastal eolian relief on the sea coast of Kuronian and Vistula Spits are considered. It is established that on coastal barriers there are at the same time processes of accretion and degradation of a dune ridge and leaned against it foredune. Alternation of stable and erosive sites of a dune ridge is revealed. The last has destruction signs as with sea (wave erosion), and from the land side where the whirls of a wind stream creating numerous deflation basins in dune ridge have great value.

Incursion of Post-Breeding Pine Siskins in the Dune- Ridge Forest, Delta Marsh, Manitoba, 1985

Incursion of Post-Breeding Pine Siskins in the Dune- Ridge Forest, Delta Marsh, Manitoba, 1985

Evening Grosbeaks Feeding on Pupae of the Forest Tent Caterpillar in the Dune- Ridge Forest, Delta Marsh, Manitoba, Spring 1976

Evening Grosbeaks Feeding on Pupae of the Forest Tent Caterpillar in the Dune- Ridge Forest, Delta Marsh, Manitoba, Spring 1976