Species-by-Species Pattern Analysis of Coastal Dune Vegetation

Abstract Vegetation is crucial for stabilizing and developing coastal dunes. Different plant species exhibit different spatial distributions which reflect their environmental role and adaptation strategy. This study aims to provide a fine-scale species-by-species analysis of vegetation spatial patterns on coastal dunes within the San Rossore – Migliarino – Massacciuccoli Regional Park (Tuscany, Italy). A comprehensive vegetation dataset generated by an Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) algorithm applied to high-resolution ortho-images has been utilized. A Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of the study area was created to assess the impact of dune morphology on plant distribution. Moreover, a wave runup analysis was also conducted to understand the interaction between vegetation and hydrodynamic forces. The research highlights how the vegetation threshold distance from the coastline, $${L}_{veg}$$ L veg , is superimposed by the reaching distance of wave runup during extreme events. Terrain morphology significantly affects the vegetation zonation: on taller and undisturbed dune fields, species zonation is clearer and more defined, whereas, on flatter and disturbed ones, spatial distribution is significantly fuzzier. A positive correlation emerges between the abundance of a species and its degree of spatial clustering, indicating how less abundant species form more tightly clustered spatial patterns. Modified Ripley’s L-function analysis revealed a multi-scale clustered pattern for most species under examination. The present results may provide a solid benchmark in coastal ecology research for supporting natural-based conservation plans and eco-morphodynamic modeling.