Abstract
As coastal populations expand, demands for recreational opportunities on beaches and coastal dunes grow correspondingly. Although dunes are known to be sensitive to direct human disturbance and provide irreplaceable ecosystem services (e.g. erosion control, critical habitat and nesting sites), dunes serve as campsites for large numbers of people (∼90,000 p.a.) on the ocean-exposed shores of Fraser Island, Australia. Campsites are located in the established dunes and can only be accessed with 4WD vehicles along tracks cut directly from the beach through the foredunes. Here we quantified the extent of physical damage to foredunes caused by this practice, and tested whether human-induced physical changes to foredunes translate into biological effects. Of the 124 km of ocean-exposed beaches, 122 km (98%) are open to vehicles driven on the beaches, and camping zones cover 28.7 km or 23% of the dunes. A total of 235 vehicle tracks are cut across the foredunes at an average density of eight tracks per km of beach. These tracks have effectively destroyed one-fifth (20.2%) of the dune front in camping zones, deeply incising the dune-beach interface. There is evidence of accelerated erosion and shoreline retreat centred around vehicle tracks, resulting in a “scalloping” of the shoreline. No dune vegetation remains in the tracks and the abundance of ghost crabs (Ocypode spp.) is significantly reduced compared with the abutting dunes. Because current levels of environmental change caused by dune camping may not be compatible with the sustainable use of coastal resources and conservation obligations for the island (listed as a World Heritage Area and gazetted as a National Park), restoration and mitigation interventions are critical. These will require spatial prioritisation of effort, and we present a multi-criteria ranking method, based on quantitative measures of environmental damage and ecological attributes, to objectively target rehabilitation and conservation measures. Ultimately, coastal management needs to develop and implement strategies that reconcile demands for human recreation, including beach camping, with conservation of coastal dune ecosystems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen CR, Forys EA, Rice KG, Wojcik DP (2001) Effects of fire ants (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) on hatching turtles and prevalence of fire ants on sea turtle nesting beaches in Florida. Florid Entomol 84:250–253. doi:10.2307/3496175
Anders FJ, Leatherman SP (1987a) Disturbance of beach sediment by off-road vehicles. Environ Geol Water Sci 9:183–189. doi:10.1007/BF02449950
Anders FJ, Leatherman SP (1987b) Effects of off-road vehicles on coastal foredunes at Fire Island, New York. Environ Manage 11:45–52. doi:10.1007/BF01867178
Anthony EJ, Vanhee S, Ruz MH (2007) An assessment of the impact of experimental brushwood fences on foredune sand accumulation based on digital elelvation models. Ecol Engineer 31:41–46. doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2007.05.005
Baird B, Dann P (2003) The breeding biology of hooded plovers, Thinornis rubricollis, on Phillip Island, Victoria. Emu 103:323–328. doi:10.1071/MU02031
Barros F (2001) Ghost crabs as a tool for rapid assessment of human impacts on exposed sandy beaches. Biol Conserv 97:399–404. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(00)00116-6
Bird BL, Branch LC, Miller DL (2004) Effects of coastal lighting on foraging behavior of beach mice. Conserv Biol 18:1435–1439. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2004.00349.x
Bonte D (2005) Anthropogenic induced changes in nesting densities of the dune-specialised digger wasp Bembix rostrata (Hymenoptera : Sphecidae). Eur J Entomol 102:809–812
Bouchard SS, Bjorndal KA (2000) Sea turtles as biological transporters of nutrients and energy from marine to terrestrial ecosystems. Ecol 81:2305–2313
Brodhead JM, Godfrey PJ (1977) Off road vehicle impact in Cape Cod national seashore: Disruption and recovery of dune vegetation. Int J Biometeorol 21:299–306. doi:10.1007/BF01552884
Burger J (1994) The effect of human disturbance on foraging behaviour and habitat use in Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus). Estuaries 17:695–701. doi:10.2307/1352418
Defeo O, McLachlan A, Schoeman DS, Schlacher TA, Dugan J, Jones A, Lastra M, Scapini F (2008) Threats to sandy beach ecosystems: a review. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2008.09.022
Feagin RA, Sherman DJ, Grant WE (2005) Coastal erosion, global sea-level rise, and the loss of sand dune plant habitats Front Ecol Environ 3:359–364
Godfrey PJ, Godfrey M (1980) Ecological effects of off-road vehicles on Cape Cod. Oceanus 23:56–67
Gómez-Pina G, Muñoz-Pérez JJ, Ramírez JL, Ley C (2002) Sand dune management problems and techniques, Spain. J Coast Res 36(SI):325–332
Groom JD, McKinney LB, Ball LC, Winchell CS (2007) Quantifying off-highway vehicle impacts on density and survival of a threatened dune-endemic plant. Biol Conserv 135:119–134. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.10.005
Harley CDG, Hughes AR, Hultgren KM, Miner BG, Sorte CJB, Thornber CS, Rodriguez LF, Tomanek L, Williams SL (2006) The impacts of climate change in coastal marine systems. Ecol Lett 9:228–241. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00871.x
Hesp PA (1983) Morphodynamics of incipient foredunes in N.S.W., Australia. In: Brookfield ME, Ahlbrandt TS (eds) Eolian sediments and processes. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 325–34
Hesp PA (1990) A review of biological and geomorphological processes involved in the initiation and development of incipient foredunes. Proc Roy Soc Edinburgh, Sect B (Biol Sci) 96:181–202
Hesp PA (1991) Ecological processes and plant adaptations on coastal dunes. J Arid Environ 21:165–191
Hesp PA (2002) Foredunes and blowouts: initiation, geomorphology and dynamics. Gemorph 48:245–268. doi:10.1016/S0169-555X(02)00184-8
Hockings M (1998) Evalutating management of protected areas: integrating planning and evaluation. Environ Manage 22:337–345. doi:10.1007/s002679900109
Hockings M, Twyford K (1997) Assessment and management of beach camping within Fraser Island World Heritage Area, South East Queensland. Aust J Environ Manage 4:25–39
Hosier PE (1980) Recreational off-road vehicle impacts in coastal North Carolina. Carol Plann 6:34–40
Hosier PE, Eaton TE (1980) The impact of vehicles on dune and grassland vegetation on a southeastern North Carolina barrier beach. J Appl Ecol 17:173–183. doi:10.2307/2402972
Hosier PE, Kochhar M, Thayer V (1981) Off-road vehicle and pedestrian track effects on the sea-approach of hatchling loggerhead turtles. Environ Conserv 8:158–161
Kohler KE, Gill SM (2006) Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe): A Visual Basic program for the determination of coral and substrate coverage using random point count methodology. Comput Geosci 32:1259–1269. doi:10.1016/j.cageo.2005.11.009
Leseberg A, Hockey PAR, Loewenthal D (2000) Human disturbance and the chick-rearing ability of African black oystercatchers (Haematopus moquini): a geographical perspective. Biol Conserv 96:379–385. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(00)00076-8
Longcore T, Rich C (2004) Ecological light pollution. Front Ecol Environ 2:191–198
Lucrezi S, Schlacher TA, Walker SJ (2008) Monitoring human impacts on sandy shore ecosystems: a test of ghost crabs (Ocypode spp.) as biological indicators on an urban beach. Environ Monit Assess. doi:10.1007/s10661-008-0326-2
Margules CR, Pressey RL (2000) Systematic conservation planning. Nature 405:243–253
Morton RA, Sallenger AH (2003) Morphological impacts of extreme storms on sandy beaches and barriers. J Coast Res 19:560–573
Moss D, McPhee DP (2006) The impacts of recreational four-wheel driving on the abundance of the Ghost Crab (Ocypode cordimanus) on subtropical beaches in SE Queensland. Coast Manage 34:133–140. doi:10.1080/08920750500379383
Nordstrom KF (2000) Beaches and dunes on developed coasts. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
Nordstrom KF, Lampe R, Vandemark LM (2000) Reestablishing naturally functioning dunes on developed coasts. Environ Manage 25:37–51. doi:10.1007/s002679910004
Nordstrom KF, Mauriello MN (2001) Restoring and maintaining naturally-functioning landforms and biota on intensively developed barrier islands under a no-retreat alternative. Shore Beach 69:19–28
Pickering CM, Hill W (2007) Impacts of recreation and tourism on plant biodiversity and vegetation in protected areas in Australia. J Environ Manage 85:791–800. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.11.021
QPWS (2004) Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services: Fraser Island World Heritage Area Revised Camping Management Plan. Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane, Australia
Rickard CA, McLachlan A, Kerley GIH (1994) The effects of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on dune vegetation in South Africa. Ocean Coast Manage 23:225–247. doi:10.1016/0964-5691(94)90021-3
Roze F, Lemauviel S (2004) Sand dune restoration in North Brittany, France: A 10-year monitoring study. Restor Ecol 12:29–35. doi:10.1111/j.1061-2971.2004.00264.x
Rust IC, Illenberger WK (1996) Coastal dunes—sensitive or not? Landsc Urban Plan 34:165–169. doi:10.1016/0169-2046(95)00232-4
Salmon M (2003) Artificial night lighting and sea turtles. Biologist 50:163–168
Sarkar S, Pressey RL, Faith DP, Margules CR, Fuller T, Stoms DM, Moffett A, Wilson KA, Williams KJ, Williams PH, Andelman S (2006) Biodiversity conservation planning tools: Present status and challenges for the future. Ann Rev Env Res 123–159.
Scapini F (ed) (2002) Baseline research for the integrated sustainable management of Mediterranean sensitive coastal ecosystems. A manual for coastal managers, scientists and all those studying coastal processes and management in the Mediterranean. Firenze, Istituto Agronomico per l’Oltremare, Società Editrice Fiorentina
Schlacher TA, Thompson LMC (2008) Physical impacts caused by off-road vehicles (ORVs) to sandy beaches: spatial quantification of car tracks on an Australian barrier island. J Coast Res 224:234–242. doi:10.2112/06-0691.1
Schlacher TA, Schoeman DS, Lastra M, Jones A, Dugan J, Scapini F, McLachlan A (2006) Neglected ecosystems bear the brunt of change. Ethol Ecol Evol 18:349–351
Schlacher TA, Thompson LMC, Price S (2007a) Vehicles versus conservation of invertebrates on sandy beaches: quantifying direct mortalities inflicted by off-road vehicles (ORVs) on ghost crabs. Mar Ecol-Evol Persp 28:354–367
Schlacher TA, Dugan J, Schoeman DS, Lastra M, Jones A, Scapini F, McLachlan A, Defeo O (2007b) Sandy beaches at the brink. Divers Distrib 13:556–560
Schlacher TA, Richardson D, McLean I (2008) Impacts of off-road vehicles (ORVs) on macrobenthic assemblages on sandy beaches. Environ Manage 41:878–892. doi:10.1007/s00267-008-9071-0
Short AD (ed) (1999) Handbook of beach and shoreface morphodynamics. New York, Wiley
Slott JM, Murray AB, Ashton AD, Crowley TJ (2006) Coastline responses to changing storm patterns. Geophys Res Lett 33:L18404. doi:10.1029/2006GL027445
Strachan PH, Smith RC, Hamilton DAB, Taylor AC, Atkinson RJA (1999) Studies on the ecology and behaviour of the ghost crab, Ocypode cursor (L.) in northern Cyprus. Sci Mar 63:51–60
Van Dam AR, Van Dam MH (2008) Impact of off-road vehicle use on dune endemic Coleoptera. Ann Entomol Soc Am 101:411–417. doi:10.1603/0013-8746(2008)101[411:IOOVUO]2.0.CO;2
Verhulst S, Oosterbeek K, Ens BJ (2001) Experimental evidence for effects of human disturbance on foraging and parental care in oystercatchers. Biol Conserv 101:375–380. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(01)00084-2
Watson JJ, Kerley GIH, McLachlan A (1996) Human activity and potential impacts on dune breeding birds in the Alexandria Coastal Dunefield. Landsc Urban Plan 34:315–322. doi:10.1016/0169-2046(95)00239-1
Watson JJ, Kerley GIH, McLachlan A (1997) Nesting habitat of birds breeding in a coastal dunefield, South Africa and management implications. J Coast Res 13:36–45
White PS, Walker JL (1997) Approximating nature’s variation: Selecting and using reference information in restoration ecology. Restor Ecol 5:338–349. doi:10.1046/j.1526-100X.1997.00547.x
Williams JA, Ward VL, Underhill LG (2004) Waders respond quickly and positively to the banning of off-road vehicles from beaches in South Africa. Wader Study Group Bull 104:79–81
Acknowledgements
We thank our team of hardy field assistants—Jennifer Morrison, Simon Walker and Lee Clarke—who trekked many kilometres through the hot sands, fighting off marsh-flies as they went. This study was financed by a grant to TAS by the Burnett Mary Regional Environmental Group for Natural Resource Management as part of the Australian Federal Government’s Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) program.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thompson, L.M.C., Schlacher, T.A. Physical damage to coastal dunes and ecological impacts caused by vehicle tracks associated with beach camping on sandy shores: a case study from Fraser Island, Australia. J Coast Conserv 12, 67–82 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-008-0032-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-008-0032-9