河段尺度的上海苏州河河岸带综合评价

基于河岸带结构初步构建河段尺度的苏州河河岸带综合评价指标体系,选取其干流43个河段为评价单元,结合遥感影像解译与实地调研,构建指标数据库,度量河岸带综合状况指数(Riparian Comprehensive Situation Index,RCSI);基于ANOVA分析方法阐释RCSI对河段区位及用地类型的响应,并提出河岸带规划设计及改进策略。结果表明:RCSI分布于3.79-25.03范围内,69.8%河段处于较差和非常差级别;②高于85%河段的滨水带及护岸带状况处于较差和非常差级别,滨水带宽度和护岸类型是其主要影响因素;大于50%河段的近岸带状况处于较差和非常差级别,不透水面积率和设施丰富度是其关键限制因子;③人类活动强度、城市化进程等原因导致RCSI以及多数指标在不同区位和不同用地类型中存在显著差异,而滨水带宽度、护岸坡度、侵蚀程度、α多样性指数和纵向连通性等方面无显著性差异。     

不同尺度因子对滦河流域大型底栖无脊椎动物群落的影响

通过2011年滦河流域38个河段大型底栖无脊椎动物采集,探讨了河段尺度和流域尺度环境因子对大型底栖无脊椎动物分布的影响。其中,河段尺度因子包括水体/底质特征、河岸带特征和水质,流域尺度因子包括采样位置、流域土地利用结构和缓冲区土地利用结构。RDA(冗余分析)结果表明,河段尺度影响大型底栖无脊椎动物分布的关键因子为:细粒物质比例、河岸带植被盖度、河岸带人类干扰程度、河岸带农田比例、水面宽度和河道改造程度,总解释量为42%;流域尺度影响大型底栖无脊椎动物分布的关键因子为:纬度、海拔、流域内耕地面积百分比和流域面积,总解释量为32%。研究结果表明,河段尺度因子比流域尺度因子对于指示大型底栖无脊椎动物分布更为重要,在环境因子监测中应给以更多的重视。     

基于河道-湿地-缓冲带复合指标的京郊河溪生态评价体系

河溪是陆地水环境的基本组成单位,对人类的生产,生活产生着重要的影响。河溪近自然生态评价是以自然状态河段为本底值,对人为活动或自然条件突变所造成的退化河溪生态系统的结构和功能作整体健康评判．基于河道-湿地-缓冲带复合指标的京郊河溪近自然生态评价体系以野外大量调查数据为基础,按照科学性、目标性、系统性、独立性、可操作性的原则,从生态、地貌、水文特征方面挑选相互匹配的22个定量指标和13个定性指标,将评价过程分为定性评价和定量评价,综合考虑两者的长处以避免评价结果过于主观．并由于该评价是基于多指标和多点调查得到的,评价的结果容易受到采样中随机性的影响,存在模糊性和概率性,因此,采用模糊概率评价的方法,构建该评价体系。并综合考虑一个平衡河溪水生生态系统的特点以及水环境特有的地形地质和群落状况等因素的差异,可以将河溪的近自然程度分为以下4个等级：Ⅰ自然状态;Ⅱ河溪受到轻微人类活动的侵扰（近自然状态）;Ⅲ河溪受到剧烈人类活动的侵扰（退化自然状态）;Ⅳ完全人工化,并在4个等级之间划分出3个过渡带,以表明河溪生态系统的动态转化过程．最后利用该评价体系对位于怀柔区二级水源保护区内的怀九河进行了分段近自然生态评价,以避免某调查点数值突变对整个河溪评价结果造成影响．     

不同类型人类活动干扰对河岸带外来植物群落的影响——以北京永定河为例

强烈的人类活动对自然生境的扰动促进了外来植物侵入河岸带,但不同类型的人类活动干扰对外来植物的影响有所不同。按照不同人类活动干扰类型设置了山峡段、平原段和城市段,通过比较河段间河岸带外来植物群落特征的差异,探讨不同人类活动干扰类型对河岸带外来植物群落的影响。结果表明:(1)永定河河岸带共有维管束植物27科72属101种,外来植物13科28属29种。外来种比例高达28.7%,其中82.4%的国外外来种来自美洲和亚洲。(2)不同河段间的外来植物群落的物种构成和优势度呈现出显著性差异。外来种比例由山峡段的20.9%,上升至平原段和城市段的30.2%和25.5%;而优势度由12.1%,分别上升至13.4%和17.5%。(3)不同河段间的外来植物群落生活型结构有显著性差异。多年生草本植物在山峡段比例最高,达到66.7%,在平原段和城市段较低,分别为46.2%和30.8%;而一年生草本植物在城市段比例最高,达到69.2%,在平原段和山峡段较低,分别为53.8%和33.3%。(4)平原段属于农业干扰类型,其河岸带外来植物主要以农业类杂草为主,如禾本科的假稻(Leersia japonica)和菊科的钻叶紫菀(Aster subulatu);城市段是城市干扰类型,外来植物中入侵种比例和优势度较高,典型入侵种为反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)和牛筋草(Eleusine indica)等。北京永定河不同河段河岸带外来植物的种类构成特点,反映了河岸带外来植物受快速城市化、农业活动等不同人类活动干扰的影响呈逐渐扩大的趋势。     

黄河中下游典型河岸带植物物种多样性及其对环境的响应

为维持河岸带生态系统的完整,对河岸带的物种多样性研究十分必要。本研究采用Braun-Blanquet多度等级划分标准结合样方法调查了黄河中下游典型河段河岸带植物群落物种多样性特征,并探讨其与环境因子的关系。结果表明:黄河中下游典型河段河岸带调查的52个群落样方中,共有36科78属86种植物,群落物种组成较为丰富,但优势种并不明显。单一群落样方中,物种组成简单,不同样方之间物种组成与多样性存在明显差异,其中,受干扰较重的样方物种多样性较低,表明研究区河岸带植物物种多样性深受人为干扰所造成的生境破碎的影响。冗余分析表明,海拔和至河流距离是黄河中下游河岸带植物多样性的重要影响因子。     

清潩河(许昌段)流域生物群落特征及其与环境因子的关系

以清潩河(许昌段)流域为研究对象,通过野外调查和室内测定,对水生植物、河岸带植物和大型底栖动物的群落特征、水体和表层沉积物的环境因子特征进行研究,分析清潩河流域内的生物多样性.结果表明: 流域内共有水生植物12种,河岸带植物66种,大型底栖动物10种.群落间环境因子变异较大,其中,水体的铵氮、总氮、总磷、表层沉积物的氧化还原电位、重金属镉、汞、锌的变异显著.典范对应分析表明: 水体理化性质如化学需氧量、温度、pH、溶解氧、总磷是影响水生植物的关键环境因子;水体氧化还原电位、pH和表层沉积物的镍、汞、有机质、铅、镉是影响河岸带植物分布的关键因子;表层沉积物的pH、温度、氧化还原电位、砷、铅、镍和水体温度是影响大型底栖动物的关键环境因子.清潩河(许昌段)流域水质污染严重,生物群落多样性低,沿河的污水处理及保护与恢复生物类群的工作迫在眉睫.     

三峡库区支流生境因子对库区蓄水的响应

三峡水库的运行调度,使库区支流形成了截然不同的3种河段类型:完全受水库蓄水影响的145m回水段(完全河段),既受蓄水影响又受自然洪汛影响的145—175m回水段(双重河段)以及不受蓄水影响的大于175m的自然河流段(自然河段)。为明确库区蓄水对河流不同河段生境因子的影响程度及差异,对三峡库区36条重要支流的254个河段进行河流生境调查,进行不同河段下生境指标的因子分析,并进一步分析水文情势自然性与不同河段各生境因子的相关关系。结果表明,植被状况对3种不同河段来说均为重要生境因子,但受三峡水库蓄水影响,完全河段植被结构不完整;受库区蓄水影响,完全河段与双重河段及自然河段相比,流速流态状况、表层覆盖物状况、河岸带宽度、湿润率等生境因子有明显改变;水文情势自然性对不同河段生境因子的影响不同。     

城镇化背景下河流生境评价——以深圳市为例

城镇化背景下，河流生态系统退化趋势明显，有效评价河流生境状况是修复和保护河流生态系统健康的重要基础。深圳市作为全国经济发展的窗口城市，河流生境的调查研究十分匮乏。因此，为阐明深圳市不同城镇化程度的流域河流生境的差异与主要影响因素，对深圳市两个代表性流域的河流生境展开了研究。针对深圳市河流的生境特点，于2019年丰水期（8月）和枯水期（11月）对城镇化程度较高的深圳河流域的13个样点和城镇化程度较低的坪山河流域12个样点河段的生境状况进行定量调查与评价。采用综合评价法，从河床、河道和河岸带3个方面选取10个生境指标，构建深圳市河流生境评价指标体系和评价方法。结果表明：深圳河流域河流生境质量总体较差，生境评价等级为"良"、"中"、"差"的样点河段分别占7.7%、38.5%、53.8%；坪山河流域河流生境质量总体较好，生境评价等级为"优"、"良"、"中"、"差"的样点河段分别占8.3%、41.7%、41.7%、8.3%。方差分析结果表明两次调查河流生境状况无显著性差异，短时间跨度内河流生境状况变化较小；两个流域河流生境状况差异显著，城镇化程度较低的坪山河流域河流生境质量显著好于城镇化程度较高的深圳河流域。河流生境评估指标主成分分析结果表明人类活动强度、河岸稳定性、河道变化、底质、河岸土地利用及植被多样性是影响深圳市河流生境变化的主要因子。本文对河床、河道、河岸带3个方面分别提出针对性的修复建议，对深圳市河流的生境修复和保护具有重要的指导作用。     

荒漠区垂直河岸带植物多样性格局及其成因

荒漠区河岸植物多样性格局特征和影响机制研究可为河岸带生物多样性保护和管理提供依据。艾比湖荒漠区垂直河岸样带的植物多样性格局及其土壤影响机制的研究表明:(1)距河2.0—3.0 km(T3.0)和0.9—1.5 km(T1.5)的样带植物本质多样性、α多样性整体高于距河0.1—0.2 km(T0.2)和0.2—0.4 km(T0.4)的样带(P0.05);(2)T0.4样带多样性最低,物种相似性最高,且植物生活型和土壤属性均较T0.2有较大的变化,反映了距河0.2—0.4 km区域群落性质的转变,0.2—0.4 km可作为确定河岸带宽度的参考样带;(3)影响植物多样性的土壤因素和途径沿T0.2—T3.0样带趋于简单化,即由近河带(T0.2)贫营养(碳磷比(C/P)、土壤有机质(SOM))和高土壤水分(SWC)、盐分(TS)的限制作用,到远离河流旱胁迫加剧时对植物多样性影响逐渐突出的土壤全磷(P)和SWC;(4)根据T1.5、T3.0植物多样性特征,研究区土壤水分在7.0—7.5%间,C/P在26.1—30.2之间以及盐分低于1.0%时能维持较高的多样性。最后对保护区河岸带和缓冲带宽度的确定、河岸带管理、植被资源保护以及生态系统恢复等提出针对性建议,以期为制定有效的河岸带生物多样性维护和资源管理对策提供理论参考和科学依据。     

黄河干流河岸带植物群落特征及其影响因子分析

作为河岸带生态系统的关键组成部分,河岸带植被为许多动植物提供了栖息地以及迁徙或扩散的廊道,并对非点源污染物有着缓冲和过滤作用。黄河是我国湿地的重要组成部分,也是生物多样性分布的关键地带。但是,目前黄河水资源的过度利用如农业灌溉和干流拦河水利工程的兴建在很大程度上改变了原有的水文情势,对河岸带植被发育带来了不利影响。另外,黄河两岸的加固硬化进一步破坏了河岸带植物的生存环境。然而,过去对于黄河河岸带植被仅有对个别河段的调查。为了解目前黄河河岸带植被现状,于2008年4-6月及2008年9-10月对黄河干流河岸带植被进行了两次系统调查,以期为黄河河岸带植被多样性的保护、河岸带的开发管理提供理论支持。对群落的物种组成、多样性进行了分析,并采用双向指示种分析法对黄河干流河岸带植被进行了数量分类。共采集到木本和草本植物169种,隶属于37科124属。区系分析表明黄河干流河岸带植被区系地理成分多样。空间分布方面,中游河段草本植物无论在种类数、密度、生物量上都较上游和下游河段丰富。TWINSPAN将植被划分为17个群落,论述了各群落的特征。环境分析表明,影响黄河干流河岸带植被空间分布的主要生态因子是海拔、年均气温、年均降雨量、年均径流量和平均最大流速。       

城市化地区河岸带植被特征及其与河岸硬度的关系——以晋江市为例

确立了滨河河道硬度与滨河土地硬度两个指标,用以研究城市化地区河岸带的植物构成、多样性与均匀度、优势植物等特征与河岸硬度的关系。选定晋江市都市区12条主要河流作为研究对象,通过样地调查收集数据,并采用相应指数进行数据处理分析,结果表明:(1)调查河流的河岸带植被物种共计70科143属159种,其中乔木20科30属41种,灌木15科15属20种,草本35科98属98种,草本居主导地位,河流间种类分布不均衡;(2)河岸带植物乔灌草区系均以广义热带性成分居多,其次为世界性成分、温带性成分,无中国特有分布类型,乔木中广义热带成分占绝对主导,直观反映地带性特征,灌木与草本中的温带成分多于乔木中的温带成分,类型趋于多元,种类更丰富;(3)从河岸植被优势植物构成来看,主要优势乔木与灌木基本为本土植物,而主要草本中外来植物入侵严重,对地带性植物景观的指示显然不及乔木与灌木;(4)从河岸植被的人工美学属性来看,灌木优势植物中园林观赏植物的种类数显著多于乔木、草本优势植物,反映出晋江人工审美主导的滨河景观空间主要改变与塑造了灌木层植被景观;(5)从河岸植物的人居需求属性来看,龙眼、杨桃等多见于庭院林、水岸林的水果树种也在河岸植被中频繁出现,反映出人口密集区由于对植物生产用途的重视而对河岸植被产生的影响;(6)滨河土地硬度与河道硬度对河岸带灌木植物的影响最强烈,二者均对河岸带植物多样性造成威胁,且前者具有更大的影响力,而后者直接影响了河岸植物的分布形态,出于生产与审美目的的人为干扰对河岸带植物优势种的影响力随滨河硬度的增加而加强,低滨河硬度有助留存原生植被群落;(7)天然弯曲的河流形态对河流植被特征具有积极影响,有助于保留更多本土植被类型,并能在某种程度上丰富乔灌草的植物种类,但这种缓和作用无法根本扭转河岸硬化对植物多样性的胁迫影响。研究表明,城市化地区河流的岸带植被特征与沿线人为干扰类型和强度密切相关,恢复与塑造河岸生态景观要以乡土植被为主,通过乔木景观塑造地带性景观,并以灌木与草本丰富植被景观。     

江苏省海滩植被演替的研究

江苏省海滩植被可分为滨海盐土植被、盐沼植被及海滩沙生植被三个基本类型。本文论述了这些植被类型的演替规律。滨海盐土植被与盐沼植被的演替,外因于土壤盐分含量递减与有机质含量的递增;海滩沙生植被的演替,外因于土壤沙颗粒大小及其相应的土壤含水量的变化,所以海滩植被演替为外因动态演替。     

Applying ecological site concepts and state‐and‐transition models to a grazed riparian rangeland

Ecological sites and state‐and‐transition models are useful tools for generating and testing hypotheses about drivers of vegetation composition in rangeland systems. These models have been widely implemented in upland rangelands, but comparatively, little attention has been given to developing ecological site concepts for rangeland riparian areas, and additional environmental criteria may be necessary to classify riparian ecological sites. Between 2013 and 2016, fifteen study reaches on five creeks were studied at Tejon Ranch in southern California. Data were collected to describe the relationship between riparian vegetation composition, environmental variables, and livestock management; and to explore the utility of ecological sites and state‐and‐transition models for describing riparian vegetation communities and for creating hypotheses about drivers of vegetation change. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to classify the environmental and vegetation data (15 stream reaches × 4 years) into two ecological sites and eight community phases that comprised three vegetation states. Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was used to determine the influence of abiotic site variables, annual precipitation, and cattle activity on vegetation clusters. Channel slope explained the greatest amount of variation in vegetation clusters; however, soil texture, geology, watershed size, and elevation were also selected as important predictors of vegetation composition. The classification tree built with this limited set of abiotic predictor variables explained 90% of the observed vegetation clusters. Cattle grazing and annual precipitation were not linked to qualitative differences in vegetation. Abiotic variables explained almost all of the observed riparian vegetation dynamics—and the divisions in the CART analysis corresponded roughly to the ecological sites—suggesting that ecological sites are well‐suited for understanding and predicting change in this highly variable system. These findings support continued development of riparian ecological site concepts and state‐and‐transition models to aid decision making for conservation and management of rangeland riparian areas.     

Deforestation and Benthic Indicators: How Much Vegetation Cover Is Needed to Sustain Healthy Andean Streams?

Deforestation in the tropical Andes is affecting ecological conditions of streams, and determination of how much forest should be retained is a pressing task for conservation, restoration and management strategies. We calculated and analyzed eight benthic metrics (structural, compositional and water quality indices) and a physical-chemical composite index with gradients of vegetation cover to assess the effects of deforestation on macroinvertebrate communities and water quality of 23 streams in southern Ecuadorian Andes. Using a geographical information system (GIS), we quantified vegetation cover at three spatial scales: the entire catchment, the riparian buffer of 30 m width extending the entire stream length, and the local scale defined for a stream reach of 100 m in length and similar buffer width. Macroinvertebrate and water quality metrics had the strongest relationships with vegetation cover at catchment and riparian scales, while vegetation cover did not show any association with the macroinvertebrate metrics at local scale. At catchment scale, the water quality metrics indicate that ecological condition of Andean streams is good when vegetation cover is over 70%. Further, macroinvertebrate community assemblages were more diverse and related in catchments largely covered by native vegetation (>70%). Our results suggest that retaining an important quantity of native vegetation cover within the catchments and a linkage between headwater and riparian forests help to maintain and improve stream biodiversity and water quality in Andean streams affected by deforestation. This research proposes that a strong regulation focused to the management of riparian buffers can be successful when decision making is addressed to conservation/restoration of Andean catchments.     

Stream characteristics and their implications for the protection of riparian fens and meadows

1. Running waters, including associated riparian areas, are embraced by international legal frameworks outlining targets for the preservation, protection and improvement of the quality of the environment. Interactions between stream and river processes and riparian habitats have not received much attention in the management of stream ecosystems, and integrated measures that consider both the ecological status of streams and rivers (sensu EU Water Framework Directive, WFD) and the conservation status of riparian habitats and species (sensu EU Habitats Directive, HD) are rare. 2. Here, we analysed the influence of stream size, morphology and chemical water characteristics for the distribution of water‐dependent terrestrial habitat types, i.e. alkaline fens, periodically inundated meadows and meadows in riparian areas in Denmark using an extensive data set covering a total of 254 stream reaches. A species‐based classification model was used to translate species lists into a standardised interpretation of habitat types protected by the HD in Denmark. 3. No size dependency was found regarding the distribution of fen and meadow vegetation. Instead, the distribution of fen and meadow vegetation was strongly affected by the morphology of the streams. Alkaline fens, periodically inundated meadows and meadows occurred six, five and four times, respectively, less frequently along channelised compared with natural stream reaches. Our results indicate that stream channelisation strongly interfered with the natural hydrology of riparian areas, affecting conditions needed to sustain protected fen and meadow communities. 4. We also found that water chemistry strongly influenced the occurrence of fen and meadow vegetation in riparian areas. The probability of finding fen and meadow vegetation was reduced when total phosphorus (TP) concentration exceeded 40–50 μg P L^?1, whereas meadow vegetation responded less strongly to TP. 5. Our findings highlight the importance of restoring hydrology of riparian areas to improve conditions for fen and meadow vegetation, but also that the water chemistry should be considered when measures that increase hydrological connectivity result in an increase in the probability of flooding.     

Recovery of benthic macroinvertebrate and adult dragonfly assemblages in response to large scale removal of riparian invasive alien trees

Invasive alien organisms can impact adversely on indigenous biodiversity, while riparian invasive alien trees (IATs), through shading of the habitat, can be a key threat to stream invertebrates. We ask here whether stream fauna can recover when the key threat of riparian IATs is removed. Specifically, we address whether IAT invasion, and subsequent IAT removal, changes benthic macroinvertebrate and adult dragonfly assemblages, for the worse or for the better respectively. Natural riparian zones were controls. There were statistically significant differences between stream reaches with natural, IAT-infested and IAT-cleared riparian vegetation types, based on several metrics: immature macroinvertebrate taxon richness, average score per macroinvertebrate taxon (ASPT), a macroinvertebrate subset (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Odonata larvae; EPTO), and adult dragonfly species richness. Reaches with natural vegetation, or cleared of IATs, supported greater relative diversity of macroinvertebrates than reaches shaded by dense IATs. Greatest macroinvertebrate ASPT and EPTO were in reaches bordered by natural vegetation and those bordered by vegetation cleared of IATs, and the lowest where the riparian corridor was IATs. Highest number of adult dragonflies species was along streams cleared of dense IATs. Overall, results showed that removal of a highly invasive, dense canopy of alien trees enables recovery of aquatic biodiversity. As benthic macroinvertebrate scores and adult dragonfly species richness are correlated and additive, their combined use is recommended for river condition assessments.     

Effects of riparian vegetation width and substrate type on riffle beetle community structure

Riffle beetle community structure is influenced by the preservation condition of stream riparian vegetation. Though, the width of riparian vegetation required to ensure conservation of stream insect communities is still controversial. Effects of alterations in riparian vegetation widths on stream insect community structure can be overcame by other environmental variables, like substrate type, hindering accurate assessments. We tested the effects of different riparian vegetation widths (>40, 30–15, 15–5 and <5 m) along with different substrate types (inorganic and organic) on riffle beetle community structure in southern Brazilian 4th‐ to 5th‐order streams. Riparian buffer widths and substrate types influenced riffle beetle community structure, but no interaction between them was observed. Reduced riparian vegetation widths downstream were associated with changes in riffle beetle dominant genera (Macrelmis predominated only in streams with narrowest riparian widths). Additionally, communities in organic substrates had lower equitability and different dominant genera (Hexacylloepus and Heterelmis) than inorganic ones. Our results showed that reductions in riparian vegetation were associated with water pollution and changes in riffle beetle community structure, suggesting that buffer strips narrower than 5 m are not adequate to maintain environmental integrity of southern Brazilian streams. These results have special importance for the conservation of stream insects in Brazil, as reductions up to less than 5 m in stream banks of small properties are allowed by the new Brazilian Forest Code, independently of stream order.     

Influence of invasive macrophytes on channel morphology and hydrology in an open tropical lowland stream, and potential control by riparian shading

1. The catchments of many tropical lowland streams in far north Queensland have been extensively cleared for the cultivation of sugar cane to the extent where very little of the native riparian vegetation remains. Stream channels are often choked by a matrix of introduced pasture grass ( Brachiaria mutica , or para grass) and accumulated sediment from cropland erosion.
2. Detailed transects across Bamboo Creek, a fourth order cane-land stream, revealed an estimated sediment load of 20 000 t km^–1. This has resulted in an estimated 85% reduction in the predicted bankful discharge of the original stream channel. Channel capacity has been reduced from 2.3 times to 0.3 times the predicted Q₅₀ flood discharge of 140 m³ s^–1.
3. Shade cloth treatments of 50% and 90% across the stream were used to mimic the effect of shading by riparian vegetation. Three months of shading resulted in a substantial reduction in the height and standing biomass of para grass in both shade treatments, compared to open plots (0% shade). The most dramatic effect was in the 90% treatment, where a mean reduction of 63% in height and 52% in total biomass was recorded. This was despite high net primary production of para grass in the open plots of 2.8 g dry wt m^–2 day^–1, which resulted in a overall increase of 11% and 28% in plant height and total biomass, respectively.
4. These data suggest that restoration of native riparian vegetation will be an effective long-term means of controlling invasive macrophytes in disturbed cane-land stream channels. Reduction of excessive macrophyte growth and the mobilisation of accumulated sediment are essential to the restoration of natural hydrological and ecological processes.     

Evaluation of beach vegetation for conservation/rehabilitation in Tottori Prefecture,Southwest Japan

We examined 17 beaches in Tottori Prefecture to evaluate the current status of beach vegetation for conservation/rehabilitation purposes. We conducted a floristic survey and a beach vegetation status survey, and analyzed the beach environment using aerial photographs and a geographic information system. The health of the beach vegetation was evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) of beach vegetation and environmental variables. PCA of beach vegetation variables, where axis 1 represented the scale of beach vegetation and axis 2 represented the quality of beach vegetation, resulted in four categories. PCA of beach environment variables, with axis 1 representing the synthetic component of grain/area/extension and axis 2 representing beach widths, also resulted in four categories. A beach vegetation list was determined from a floristic survey, and three conclusions were made based on this list. We first determined the priority of the beach plant species with regard to conservation. Based on their occurrence, the beach plants were divided into four types that were ordered with regard to their priority for beach plant conservation. We next focused on the occurrence of beach plants listed in the Red data book for Tottori Prefecture and reexamined the validity of the extinction risk category. Our conclusion was that this category needs to be updated. Finally, we compared the number of beach plant species of the survey site beaches with that of the Tottori Sand Dunes, where more natural conditions prevail. We found that only seven beaches equaled or surpassed the Tottori Sand Dunes in terms of the number of plant species. Based on these findings, we concluded that beaches other than the Tottori Sand Dunes are in need of conservation/rehabilitation.