Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Aleutian Coastal Beach and Dune Complex
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1a
Surface disturbance, erosion, impacts of tidal influence
More details -
Transition T2a
Time, removal of tidal influence, dune stabilization
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
Distance from the active shoreline, tidal influence, and salt spray provides the opportunity for sands and sediments to stabilize with the help of successional vegetative growth. With time and the distance from the erosive effects, dunes and tidal areas mature and develop a strong herbaceous cover. The herbaceous cover allows woody shrub/scrub cover to develop.
Although infrequent, fire can be an impact to these communities. Although referenced, no specific information was found on the shifts to these communities.
Dominant plant species
dwarf birch (Betula nana), shrub
red fruit bearberry (Arctostaphylos rubra), shrub
black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), shrub
American dunegrass (Leymus mollis), grass
red fescue (Festuca rubra), grass
Bering's tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia beringensis), grass
beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus var. maritimus), grass
boreal yarrow (Achillea millefolium var. borealis), grass
dwarf fireweed (Chamerion latifolium), grass
Submodel
Description
The coastal beaches, beach dunes, and tidal basins are in a state of active development with the periodic tidal inundation and salt spray as well as the coastal winds that easily transport the loose sands and silts. Small areas of disturbance may initiate small dunes and erosional sites. Over time, without removal of the pressure, these isolated areas can completely de-stabilize a dune field. The time frame is significant, looking at decades to centuries for complete dune destabilization.
Dominant plant species
sand ryegrass (Leymus arenarius), grass
Danish scurvygrass (Cochlearia groenlandica), grass
American dunegrass (Leymus mollis), grass
seaside sandplant (Honckenya peploides), grass
draba (Draba), grass
Moss (Moss), grass
beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus var. maritimus), grass
Submodel
Model keys
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Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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