Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Wet dune slacks: decline and new opportunities

  • Case Study
  • Nutrient-poor Freshwater Systems
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For a number of infiltrated coastal dune areas it is discussed to what extent artificial infiltration for the public water supply affects the quality of soil, groundwater and vegetation around pools and ponds, and what its effect is on the vegetation. Further, the results of investigations into the quality of vegetation, soil and water of a number of non-infiltrated, less affected dune areas are presented. The emphasis is on changes in groundwater flow pattern and on changes in the chemical composition of groundwater on the vegetation of wet dune slacks. Finally, recommendations for the management of wet dune slacks are presented.

It can be concluded that the introduction of nutrients through infiltration causes an abundance of nitrophilous herbaceous vegetation along the banks of all infiltration ponds and most dune pools. Of the three investigated macro-nutrients, nitrate, potassium and phosphate, the latter shows the most significant correlation with the composition, cover and biomass of the vegetation.

The moist biotopes of non-infiltrated dunes have largely disappeared because of desiccation, mainly as a consequence of water withdrawal, afforestation and coastal erosion. Relatively unaffected dune slacks can be found in the dunes on the Dutch Wadden Sea islands and a small number of dune areas on the mainland. In most areas, however, a serious decline in many rare species has been observed during the past twenty years because of eutrophic and acid precipitation, often in combination with disturbances of the groundwater regime.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anonymus, 1982. Integraal Onderzoek Drinkwatervoorziening Zuid-Holland. Final report. Provincial Board of South-Holland/State Institute for Drinking Water Supply. The Hague.

  • Arts, G. H. P., 1990. Detoriation of atlantic soft-water systems and their flora; A historical account. Ph.D. Thesis, Nijmegen.

  • Bakker, T. W. M., 1981. Nederlandse Kunstduinen; Geohydrologie. Ph.D. Thesis, Wageningen.

  • Bakker, T. W. M., 1990. The geohydrology of coastal dunes. Th. W. Bakker, Jungerius, P. D. & Klijn, J. A (eds), Dunes of the European coasts; Geomorphology — Hydrology — Soils. Catena Suppl. 18. Cremlingen-Destedt: P. 109–121.

  • Bakker, T. W. M., J. A. Klijn, F. J. Van Zadelhoff, 1979. Duinen en duinvalleien. PUDOC, Wageningen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bijhouwer, J. T. P., 1926. Geobotanische studies van de Berger duinen. PH.D. Thesis, Wageningen.

  • Carriëre, J. E., 1929. De waterleidingen in vele gevallen het behoud van onze duinen. De Levende Natuur 34, 126–135: 161–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Croin Michielsen, N.,(ed.) 1974. Meijendel, Duin-Water-Leven. W.v.Hoeve, The Hague/Baarn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerlach, A., 1990. Biochemistry of nitrogen in coastal dune ecosystems. Landscape Ecology (in press).

  • Groot, W. T. de, 1984. Hydrodynamic macro-dispersion as the causal back-ground of the phreatic water type mixing in infiltrated dunes. P. 208–212 in: Van Dijk, H. W. J., 1984. Invloeden van Oppervlakte-Infiltratie ten behoeve van Duinwaterwinning op Kruidachtige Oevervegetaties. Ph.D. Thesis, Wageningen.

  • Grootjans, A. P., 1985. Changes of groundwater regime in wet meadows. Ph.D. Thesis, Groningen.

  • Grootjans, A. P., P. Hendriksma, M. Engelmoer & V. Westhoff, 1988. Vegetation dynamics in a wet dune slack I: rare species decline on the Wadden island of Schiermonnikoog in The Netherlands. Acta Bot. Neerl. 37: 265–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grootjans, A. P., 1990. Hydrologische randvoorwaarden voor natuurherstel op de Waddeneilanden. P. 33–45 in: J. Abrahamse & A. Woudstra (eds), Duinen in beweging. LVBW, Harlingen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoekstra, A. C., 1974. De infiltratievijver en zijn levende have. P. 216–222 in: N. Croin Michielsen (ed.), Meijendel; duinwater-leven. Baarn/Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, M. E. & V. Westhoff, 1951. Flora en vegetatie van de Verbrande Pan bij Bergen. De Levende Natuur, 54.

  • Holkema, F., 1870. De plantengroei der Nederlandse Noordzee-eilanden; een bijdrage tot de Flora van Nederland. Ph.D. Thesis, Groningen.

  • Huisman, L. & T. N. Oltshoorn, 1983. Artificial groundwater recharge. Pitman, Boston/London/Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klijn, J. A., 1990. The younger dunes in The Netherlands: chronology and causation in: Bakker, Th. W., P. D. Jungerius & J. A. Klijn, (eds). Dunes of the European coasts; Geomorphology — Hydrology — Soils. Catena Suppl. 18. Cremlingen-Destedt: p. 89–101.

  • Leentvaar, P., 1963. Dunewaters in The Netherlands. Quakjeswater, BreedeWater and Vogelmeer. Act. Bot. Neerl. 12: 489–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leentvaar, P., 1967. Duinmeren II. Zwanenwater, Muy, Oerd en Hunenplak. Biol. Jaarboek Dodonaea 35: 228–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leentwaar, P., 1981. Hydrobiologie van natuurlikke duinmeren (with English summary). H2O 14, 9, 188–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Londo, G., 1966a. Veranderingen in flora en vegetatie van het Lekwater-infiltratiegebied in de duinen bij Zandvoort. De Levende Natuur 69, 6: 121–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Londo, G., 1966b. De huidige flora van het infiltratiegebied bij Zandvoort in vergelijking met andere natte duinvalleien in heden en verleden. De Levende Natuur 69: 145–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Londo, G., 1971. Patroon en proces in duinvalleivegetaties. Ph.D. Thesis, Nijmegen.

  • Londo, G., 1975. Infiltreren is nivelleren. De Levende Natuur 78: 74–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manuel, A. R. et al., 1984. Acidification by atmospheric deposition. Evaluation report. Ministries VROM/L&V, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meltzer, J. A. & H. W. J. Van Dijk, 1986. Effects of dissolved macro-nutrients on herbaceous vegetations around dune pools. Vegetatio 65: 53–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nygaard, G., 1949. Hydrobiological studies on some Danish ponds and lakes. II. Kongl. Danske Vid. Selsk. Biol. Skr. 7, 293 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pigott, C. D. & K. Taylor, 1964. The distribution of some woodland herbs in relation to the supply of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil. J. Ecol. 52: 175–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranwell, D. S., 1972. Ecology of salt marshes and sand dunes. London.

  • Stuyfzand, P. J., 1990. Hydrochemical facies analysis of coastal dunes and adjacent low lands: The Netherlands as an example. P. 121–132 in: Bakker, Th. W., P. D. Jungerius & Klijn, J. A., (eds). Dunes of the European coasts; Geomorphology — Hydrology — Soils. Catena Suppl. 18. Cremlingen-Destedt.

  • Stuyfzand, P. J. & R. J. Stuurman, 1985. Experimenteel bewijs en modellering van een zoetwaterlens op kunstmatig geïnfiltreed water (with English summary). H2O 18: 408–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuyfzand, P. J. & F. M. L. Moberts, 1987a. De bijzondere hydrologie van kwelplassen in duinen met kunstmatige infiltratie(with English summary). H2O, 20, 3, 52–57/62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuyfzand, P. J. & F. M. L. Moberts, 1987b. Hydrochemie en hydrologie van 3 soorten (ver)nat duinterrein langs Hollands kust. Report SWE 86.006, KIWA, Nieuwegein.

    Google Scholar 

  • Texeira, R. M., 1979. Atlas van de Nederlandse Broedvogels. Vereniging tot Behoud van Natuurmonumenten in Nederland/SOVON, 's Graveland.

  • Udo de Haes, H. A., 1982. De gevolgen van waterwinning in de duinen. P. 133–157 in: Ten Houten, J. G. (ed.), Waddenduinen-delta. PUDOC, Wageningen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Udo de Haes, H. A., G. J. Baeijens & H. W. J. van Dijk, 1980. Drinkwaterwinning en natuurbehoud: confliten en mogelijkheden tot integratie (with English summary). H2O 19: 441–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dam, H., 1987. Acidification of moorland pools: a process in time. Ph.D. Thesis, Wageningen.

  • Van der Laan, D., 1979. Spatial and temporal variation in the vegetation of dune slacks in relation to the groundwater régime. Vegetatio 39: 43–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Meulen, F., 1982. Vegetation changes and water catchment in a Dutch coastal dune area. Biol. Cons. 24: 305–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Zande, A. N., 1989. Outdoor recreation and dune conservation in The Netherlands. p. 207–217 in: Van der Meulen, F., P. D. Jungerius & J. H. Visser (eds), Perspectives in coastal dune management. SBP Academic Publishing, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J., 1984a. Invloeden van Oppervlakte-Infiltratie ten behoeve van Duinwaterwinning op Kruidachtige Oevervegetaties (with English summary). Ph.D. Thesis, Wageningen.

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J., 1984b. Duininfiltratie op Schouwen: invloed op het natuurlijke milieu. Duin 7, 2, 19–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J., 1985a. The impact of artificial dune infiltration on the nutrient content of ground- and surface water. Biol. Cons. 34: 149–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J., 1985b. Bodemchemische processen bij herstel van bodem en vegetatie. p. 9–16 in Report of symposium ‘Return of the wet dune slacks’. Foundation for Dune Conservation, Leiden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J., 1985c. Luchtverontreiniging: effekten op duinmilieu. Duin 1985, 2, 3–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J., 1986. Duininfiltratie en zoetwaterlenzen in de Nederlandse kustduinen (with English summary). H2O 19, 12, 265/276–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J., 1989a. Ecological impact of drinkingwater production in Dutch coastal dunes. Pag. 163–183 in: Meulen, F. van der, P. D. Jungerius & Visser, J. (eds), Perspectives in coastal dune management. SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J., 1989b. Effekten van infiltratie op de vegetatie en bodem in duingebieden. Pag. 8–32 in: Roelofs, J. G. M. (ed.), Aanvoer van gebiedsvreemd water: omvang en effecten op oecosystemen. Dept. Aquatic Ecology, Nijmegen University.

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J. & T. W. M. Bakker, 1984. Duininfiltratie: invloed op balans en concentraties van voedingsstoffen (with English summary). H2O 17: 597–600.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J. & W. T. De Groot, 1987. Eutrophication of coastal dunes by artificial infiltration. Wat. Res. 21: 11–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J. & Meltzer, J. A., 1981. Hydrobiologie van natuurlijke duinmeren: een commentaar (with English summary). H2O 14: 564–567.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, H. W. J., M. A. M. Noordervliet & W. T. De Groot, 1985. Nutrient supply of herbaceous bank vegetations in Dutch coastal dunes: the importance of nutrient mobilization in relation to artificial infiltration. Acta Bot. Neerl. 34: 301–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk, J. (ed.), 1981. Randstad en broedvogels. Vogelwerkgroep Avifauna West-Nederland. Tilburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Ommering, G. & J. N. C. Van der Salm, 1990. Ontwikkelingen in de broedvogelbevolking van Meijendel. Meijendel Comité, New Series no. 115. Duin + Kust, Leiden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Ommering, G. & T. Verstrael, 1987. Vogels van Berkheide; 10 jaar vogelpopulatie-onderzoek in het duingebied Berkheide. Working-group Berkheide/Stichting Publikatiefonds Duinen. Leiden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dorp, D., R. Boot & E. Van der Maarel, 1985. Vegetation succession on the dunes of Oost-Voorne, The Netherlands, since 1934 interpreted from air photographs and vegetation maps. Vegetatio 58: 123–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Eeden, F. W., 1886. Onkruid. Haarlem.

  • Van Oosterhoud, E., G. C. Janze, W. T. De Groot & H. W. Van Dijk, 1982. Fosfaat en duininfiltratie: een experimentele benadering (with English summary). H2O 15: 497–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Zadelhoff, F. J., 1981. Nederlandse Kustduinen; Geobotanie. Ph.D. Thesis, Wageningen.

  • Vuyck, L., 1898. De plantengroei der duinen. Ph.D. Thesis, Leiden.

  • Van der Werf, S., 1974. Infiltratie: met water meer plant. P. 226–231 in: N. Croin Michielsen (ed.). Meijendel, DuinWater-Leven. W.v.Hoeve, The Hague/Baarn

    Google Scholar 

  • Westhoff, V., 1989. Dunes and dune management along the North Sea coasts. p. 41–51. In: van der Meulen el al. (eds), Perspectives in coastal dune management. SBP Academic Publishing, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Water Management, Provincial Board of Overijssel, P.O. Box 10078, 8000 GB, Zwolle, The Netherlands

    H. W. J. van Dijk

  2. Department of Plant Ecology, State University Groningen, P.O. 14, 9750 AA, Haren, The Netherlands

    A. P. Grootjans

Authors
  1. H. W. J. van Dijk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. P. Grootjans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van Dijk, H.W.J., Grootjans, A.P. Wet dune slacks: decline and new opportunities. Hydrobiologia 265, 281–304 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007273

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007273

Key words

Search

Navigation