Wet dune slacks: decline and new opportunities |
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Authors: | H. W. J. van Dijk A. P. Grootjans |
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Affiliation: | (1) Dept. of Water Management, Provincial Board of Overijssel, P.O. Box 10078, 8000 GB Zwolle, The Netherlands;(2) Department of Plant Ecology, State University Groningen, P.O. 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands |
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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. |
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Keywords: | dune slacks eutrophication hydrology infiltration nitrate phosphate public water supply vegetation water table |
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