Vegetation Establishment after the Restoration of Southern Swedish Coastal Dunes Invaded by Rosa rugosa

Rosa rugosa removal is widely applied due to its profound impact on native biodiversity. However, there is still a lack of studies that thoroughly assess the composition and succession of plant communities following such removal. We addressed these knowledge gaps by investigating succession following R. rugosa removal and by studying the relationship between R. rugosa density and plant diversity in an adjacent (control) area. We assessed vegetation composition and plant diversity to identify patterns and differences within the restored and the control area. The relationship between R. rugosa abundance and plant diversity in control plots was assessed using linear regression. The absence of R. rugosa in restored plots confirmed the effectiveness of the eradication. Vegetation differed across years, with the earliest restored plots resembling never-invaded reference sites, indicating progress toward undisturbed conditions. Plant diversity remained stable, indicating that restored communities are structurally resembling the original vegetation. A higher R. rugosa cover was associated with reduced plant diversity and evenness. Although species richness showed no such trend, these patterns highlight the species’ disruptive impact on community structure. Moss cover was higher in R. rugosa-invaded plots, likely due to the shaded microhabitats created by the shrub, while removal plots showed more bare soil due to disturbance during eradication. These open conditions facilitated the establishment of early-successional species, which were more light-tolerant and typical for pioneer dune habitats. In comparison, species only found in invaded plots were shade-tolerant and nitrophilous, and species present in both plot types were cosmopolitan, indicating their adaptability to varying environmental conditions. These results highlight the role of the R. rugosa as an ecosystem engineer, emphasising the need for active restoration through the removal of R. rugosa to recover the native flora and the ecosystem services that dune diversity offers.