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Barrier Dynamics and Response to Changing Climate pp 337–361Cite as

The Role of Vegetation in Determining Dune Morphology, Exposure to Sea-Level Rise, and Storm-Induced Coastal Hazards: A U.S. Pacific Northwest Perspective

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Abstract

Coastal foredunes are often the “first line of defense” for backshore infrastructure from the hazards of erosion and flooding, and they are key components of coastal ecosystems. The shape and growth characteristics of coastal foredunes, typically characterized by simple morphometrics such as dune toe and crest elevations, and dune volume, are a product of both physical and biological forces. By influencing foredune shape, these forces ultimately affect the exposure of human populations and ecosystems to extreme storms and sea-level rise. In this chapter, we synthesize field surveys and a suite of interdisciplinary laboratory, mesocosm, and computer modeling experiments that examine the relative role of vegetation in determining dune geomorphology in the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW). We focus on how dunes of different shapes result in variable levels of exposure to coastal hazards. Results suggest that PNW dune shape is primarily a function of sediment supply and the geographic distribution of two species of non-native beach grasses (Ammophila arenaria and A. breviligulata). Over recent decades, A. breviligulata (American beachgrass) has increased its dominance over A. arenaria (European beachgrass) on dunes where it was originally planted and has actively spread to new sites formerly dominated by A. arenaria. A species-specific biophysical feedback occurs between sand deposition and beach grass growth habit, resulting in distinctly different dune geomorphologies in locations dominated by these different grass species. The dense, vertical growth habit of A. arenaria allows it to capture more sand, produce more vertical tillers, and build taller, narrower dunes, while the less dense, lateral growth habit of A. breviligulata is more suited for building shorter but wider dunes. The species-specific feedbacks, along with invasion dynamics, have a first order effect on the region’s exposure to coastal hazards, in the present day and under a range of climate change and invasion scenarios. These findings draw on insights from geomorphology, ecology, and coastal engineering to assess coastal barrier vulnerability in light of global change.

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Acknowledgments

The field, mesocosm, and laboratory observations described in this manuscript are the result of the hard work by many individuals from Oregon State University, the Evergreen State College, the Washington Department of Ecology, the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Funding for the work synthesized in this paper was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA/NCER 83383601-0), Oregon Sea Grant (NA060AR4170010, NA10OAR4170010), the National Science Foundation (IGERT NSF award 0333257), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA award NA15OAR4310243), the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS), the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory, and a Mamie Markham Research Grant (Hatfield Marine Science Center). This manuscript benefited greatly from thorough reviews of Evan B. Goldstein and an anonymous reviewer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Peter Ruggiero Ph.D.

  2. Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Sally Hacker Ph.D.

  3. Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Eric Seabloom Ph.D.

  4. Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Phoebe Zarnetske Ph.D.

  5. Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Phoebe Zarnetske Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Peter Ruggiero Ph.D.
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  2. Sally Hacker Ph.D.
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  3. Eric Seabloom Ph.D.
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  4. Phoebe Zarnetske Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Ruggiero Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department Geological Sciences, Curriculum for the Environment and Ecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Laura J. Moore

  2. Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Center for Nonlinear and Complex Systems, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    A. Brad Murray

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Ruggiero, P., Hacker, S., Seabloom, E., Zarnetske, P. (2018). The Role of Vegetation in Determining Dune Morphology, Exposure to Sea-Level Rise, and Storm-Induced Coastal Hazards: A U.S. Pacific Northwest Perspective. In: Moore, L., Murray, A. (eds) Barrier Dynamics and Response to Changing Climate. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68086-6_11

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