Dune Vegetation

RESUME Les communautes arvicoles avec Galinsoga parviflora dans la Catalogne. Rebut: febrer 1979 On decrit la sousas. euphorbietosum prostratae nov. et la sousas. fumarietosum nov. du Digitario-Galinsogetum (Panico-Setarion), association que n'avait ete rapportee encore de la Catalogne.

AimThe EUNIS Habitat Classification is a widely used reference framework for European habitat types (habitats), but it lacks formal definitions of individual habitats that would enable their unequivocal identification. Our goal was to develop a tool for assigning vegetation‐plot records to the habitats of the EUNIS system, use it to classify a European vegetation‐plot database, and compile statistically‐derived characteristic species combinations and distribution maps for these habitats.LocationEurope.MethodsWe developed the classification expert system EUNIS‐ESy, which contains definitions of individual EUNIS habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. Each habitat was formally defined as a formula in a computer language combining algebraic and set‐theoretic concepts with formal logical operators. We applied this expert system to classify 1,261,373 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and other databases. Then we determined diagnostic...

AimThe EUNIS Habitat Classification is a widely used reference framework for European habitat types (habitats), but it lacks formal definitions of individual habitats that would enable their unequivocal identification. Our goal was to develop a tool for assigning vegetation‐plot records to the habitats of the EUNIS system, use it to classify a European vegetation‐plot database, and compile statistically‐derived characteristic species combinations and distribution maps for these habitats.LocationEurope.MethodsWe developed the classification expert system EUNIS‐ESy, which contains definitions of individual EUNIS habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. Each habitat was formally defined as a formula in a computer language combining algebraic and set‐theoretic concepts with formal logical operators. We applied this expert system to classify 1,261,373 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and other databases. Then we determined diagnostic...

Large Woody Debris (LWD) accumulation serves essential ecological functions and benefits society’s coastal ecosystems (e.g., beaches). Thus far, the ecosystem services perspective has paid little attention to LWD. Therefore, we aim to contrast social perceptions on LWD and its ecological significance in Puerto Velero beach, Caribbean, Colombia. In consequence, the contribution of LWD to the conformation and creation of Puerto Velero beach was analyzed, as well as how beachgoers perceive the importance of LWD and if they were willing to pay to remove LWD in this beach. To achieve this, a quantitative convergent approach was then proposed using GIS analysis and remote sensing to understand the contributions of LWD to the Puerto Velero beach ecosystem; and in addition, a survey was performed to determine how beachgoers perceived LWD and how they valued the phenomenon. Results indicate that LWD contributed to beach maintenance; nevertheless, most people neglected LWD values because of i...

Beaches represent important economic resources linked to “Sun, Sea and Sand” tourism and, therefore, their water quality constitutes an issue of great relevance especially in developing countries. The main objective of this work was to determine the microbial quality of beach sediments along the Caribbean coast of the Department of Atlántico (Colombia) and its relationships with the existence of local sources of contamination (e.g., streams containing wastewaters), beach exposition to waves, the quantity of beach visitors—which is reflected by beach typology (e.g., urban, rural, etc.), the presence of tourist activities/infrastructures and the beach sand sedimentological characteristics. Along the study area, samples of beach sediments were gathered in beach face and backshore areas at 11 sectors and the microbiological counts of three faecal indicator bacteria, i.e., Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp. and Clostridium perfringens, were determined. A homogeneous distribution was rec...

AimThe EUNIS Habitat Classification is a widely used reference framework for European habitat types (habitats), but it lacks formal definitions of individual habitats that would enable their unequivocal identification. Our goal was to develop a tool for assigning vegetation‐plot records to the habitats of the EUNIS system, use it to classify a European vegetation‐plot database, and compile statistically‐derived characteristic species combinations and distribution maps for these habitats.LocationEurope.MethodsWe developed the classification expert system EUNIS‐ESy, which contains definitions of individual EUNIS habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. Each habitat was formally defined as a formula in a computer language combining algebraic and set‐theoretic concepts with formal logical operators. We applied this expert system to classify 1,261,373 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and other databases. Then we determined diagnostic...

AimThe EUNIS Habitat Classification is a widely used reference framework for European habitat types (habitats), but it lacks formal definitions of individual habitats that would enable their unequivocal identification. Our goal was to develop a tool for assigning vegetation‐plot records to the habitats of the EUNIS system, use it to classify a European vegetation‐plot database, and compile statistically‐derived characteristic species combinations and distribution maps for these habitats.LocationEurope.MethodsWe developed the classification expert system EUNIS‐ESy, which contains definitions of individual EUNIS habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. Each habitat was formally defined as a formula in a computer language combining algebraic and set‐theoretic concepts with formal logical operators. We applied this expert system to classify 1,261,373 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and other databases. Then we determined diagnostic...

AimThe EUNIS Habitat Classification is a widely used reference framework for European habitat types (habitats), but it lacks formal definitions of individual habitats that would enable their unequivocal identification. Our goal was to develop a tool for assigning vegetation‐plot records to the habitats of the EUNIS system, use it to classify a European vegetation‐plot database, and compile statistically‐derived characteristic species combinations and distribution maps for these habitats.LocationEurope.MethodsWe developed the classification expert system EUNIS‐ESy, which contains definitions of individual EUNIS habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. Each habitat was formally defined as a formula in a computer language combining algebraic and set‐theoretic concepts with formal logical operators. We applied this expert system to classify 1,261,373 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and other databases. Then we determined diagnostic...

Introduction The Mediterranean dunes, which range from mobile to fixed dunes, have been overexploited. Indigenous dune forests were cleared and were temporarily cultivated or overgrazed by sheep or goats (van der Meulen and Salman 1996). Similarly, the coastal dune ecosystem of the Seyhan Delta, about 3200 ha of which was cultivated, is under risk of detrimental impacts of agricultural practices. Yılmaz (2002) investigated the impacts of agriculture, afforestation, and recreation on the sand dunes of the Çukurova deltas, including the Seyhan and Ceyhan deltas. Flora and some vegetation characteristics of the Çukurova deltas have been already examined by Çakan et al. (2005) and Yılmaz (2002). In comparison to the detailed studies on the flora and vegetation, the relation between plant communities and mycorrhizal richness and its presence in the plant communities on the sand dunes has received relatively little attention in the Mediterranean part of Turkey. Therefore, Çakan and Karataş (2006) investigated the mycorrhizal status of dune plant species in relation to their life forms along a successional gradient of natural sand dunes. Coastal sand dunes are ideal for investigating the roles of mycorrhiza in succession, as it is possible to examine vegetation through all serial stages, from the pioneer to the stabilized zones, in a relatively small area (Çakan and Karataş 2006). Mycorrhizal colonization has great importance on plant establishment and growth in sand dune ecosystems (Sylvia 1989; Sylvia and Jarstfer 1997, Ramos-Zapata et al. 2011). Previous research on the mycorrhiza of sand dunes has detailed the mycorrhizal status of the colonizing plants and the identification, distribution, and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) spores (Corkidi and Rincon 1997; Ramos-Zapata et al. 2011). It has also been demonstrated that the external mycelium of AM plays a significant role in the process of dune stabilization, as sand grains are bound together mechanically by their hyphae (Koske 1975; Sutton

Aquest article actualitza el coneixement florístic de les espècies que colonitzen les platges i dunes del litoral català, i identifica el grup d' espècies típiques que colonitzen aquests paisatges, així com estableix aquelles espècies restringides als hàbitats dunars, el seu rang de distribució i la seva raresa. Es van mostrejar 87 sistemes dunars a partir de transsectes ortogonals a la línia de costa, que s' estenien des de la vegetació anual de la platja alta fins a l' extrem interior del sistema dunar. Es van identificar un total de 224 espècies. El nombre va ser molt proper a l' obtingut en el càlcul del S MaoTao i dels dos estimadors de la riquesa del nombre total d' espècies, Chao2 i Jacknife2. L'anàlisi de la freqüència de les 224 espècies enregistrades va portar a establir un conjunt de 87 que es poden considerar com les espècies típiques dels hàbitats de platja i duna de la costa catalana. Entre aquestes es va identificar un grup de 34 espècies restringides als hàbitat de platja i duna, entre les quals 12 són rares o molt rares. La presència de diverses espècies exòtiques, algunes d' elles molt esteses en els hàbitats dunars, és un indicador del canvi ambiental provocat per la freqüentació d'aquests hàbitats derivada de l'activitat humana. Paraules clau: espècies típiques, vegetació psammòfila, dunes, sistemes platja-duna, costa catalana. Typical and exclusive vascular plants typical of the beach and dune habitats of the Catalan coast This article updates the floristic knowledge of the species that colonize the beaches and dunes of the Catalan coast, identifies the group of typical species that colonize these landscapes and also establishes those species restricted to dune habitats, their range of distribution and their rarity. 87 dune systems were sampled from orthogonal transects on the shoreline, extending from the annual vegetation of the back beach to the inner end of the dune system. A total of 224 species were identified. The number was very close to that obtained in the calculation of the S MaoTao and the two estimators of the richness of the total number of species, Chao2 and Jacknife2. The frequency analysis of the 224 species recorded led to the establishment of a set of 87 species that can be considered as the typical species of beach and dune habitats on the Catalan coast. Among these, a group of 34 species restricted to beach and dune habitats were identified, of which 12 are rare or very rare. The presence of several exotic species, some of them widespread in dune habitats, is an indicator of the environmental change caused by the frequentation of these habitats due to human activity.

Aquest article actualitza el coneixement florístic de les espècies que colonitzen les platges i dunes del litoral català, i identifica el grup d’espècies típiques que colonitzen aquests paisatges, així com estableix aquelles espècies restringides als hàbitats dunars, el seu rang de distribució i la seva raresa. Es van mostrejar 87 sistemes dunars a partir de transsectes ortogonals a la línia de costa, que s’estenien des de la vegetació anual de la platja alta fins a l’extrem interior del sistema dunar. Es van identificar un total de 224 espècies. El nombre va ser molt proper a l’obtingut en el càlcul del SMaoTao i dels dos estimadors de la riquesa del nombre total d’espècies, Chao2 i Jacknife2. L’anàlisi de la freqüència de les 224 espècies enregistrades va portar a establir un conjunt de 87 que es poden considerar com les espècies típiques dels hàbitats de platja i duna de la costa catalana. Entre aquestes es va identificar un grup de 34 espècies restringides als hàbitat de platja ...

En aquest treball presentarem i analitzarem la situacio de les especies vegetals que habiten a les dunes del municipi de Malgrat de Mar. Aquest municipi esta situat la costa del Maresme, una zona molt influenciada per la dinamica costanera i a la qual les platges juguen un paper molt important des del punt de vista turistic. A Malgrat de Mar trobem 4 platges, les quals son urbanitzades i amb una gran frequentacio. A mes, es troben actualment en retroces degut a la pressio de les activitats antropiques i l'avenc de la linia de costa terra endins. Les psammofiles son un grup de plantes tipiques dels sistemes dunars litorals. Son indicadores d'un bon estat ecologic de les platges ja que son molt sensibles a qualsevol tipus de pertorbacio. Aquest treball preten trobar resposta al motiu pel qual la linia de costa es troba en retroces i quina es l'afectacio d'aquest sobre les psammofiles, com tambe els impactes, tant directes com indirectes que tenen repercussio sobre aque...

We investigate the impacts of largescale mussel farming on coastal erosion. • We analyzed a long series of remote images with high temporal spatial resolution combined with geophysical submarine data. • The development of a large floating mussel farm caused the disequilibrium of a sand spit. • The effects extended for nearly 40 years after the establishment of the farm.

The growing establishment of port structures in estuarine regions has resulted in alternated sedimentation patterns and new geoforms. The primary purpose of this study is to understand the recent formation and geomorphological evolution of the fluvial bar in the final portion of the Magdalena River. The geomorphological evolution analysis was made possible using Geographic Information Systems tools, satellite images, and bathymetric data. The studied bar formed and stabilized through anthropic and natural factors such as port structures (obstacles to sediment transport), channel morphology, and natural-and anthropic-caused variation to the sediment supply. The lateral bar formation, adjacent to port structures, began in 2017 with surface runoff accumulating and anchored on the riverbank since 2018. At present, the bar covers 45% of the original river width, and an approximate sediment volume worth 4,000,000 m 3 has accumulated. Changes in the navigable channel result in slope modification from 2.02 • to 5.36 •. The construction of port structures, i.e. new pile bridges, changes the natural sediment flow, because they are obstacles, trapping sediments downstream. This period coincides with the end of a weak El Niño cycle, subsequent to a La Nina period also of low intensity, with reduced precipitation rates resulting in a decrease in flow, and therefore contributing to an increase in sedimentation. The observations suggest that it is crucial to understand the channel bars' morphology and origin to avoid possible economic and social impacts due to the disruptions in navigation.

The growing establishment of port structures in estuarine regions has resulted in alternated sedimentation patterns and new geoforms. The primary purpose of this study is to understand the recent formation and geomorphological evolution of the fluvial bar in the final portion of the Magdalena River. The geomorphological evolution analysis was made possible using Geographic Information Systems tools, satellite images, and bathymetric data. The studied bar formed and stabilized through anthropic and natural factors such as port structures (obstacles to sediment transport), channel morphology, and natural-and anthropic-caused variation to the sediment supply. The lateral bar formation, adjacent to port structures, began in 2017 with surface runoff accumulating and anchored on the riverbank since 2018. At present, the bar covers 45% of the original river width, and an approximate sediment volume worth 4,000,000 m 3 has accumulated. Changes in the navigable channel result in slope modification from 2.02 • to 5.36 •. The construction of port structures, i.e. new pile bridges, changes the natural sediment flow, because they are obstacles, trapping sediments downstream. This period coincides with the end of a weak El Niño cycle, subsequent to a La Nina period also of low intensity, with reduced precipitation rates resulting in a decrease in flow, and therefore contributing to an increase in sedimentation. The observations suggest that it is crucial to understand the channel bars' morphology and origin to avoid possible economic and social impacts due to the disruptions in navigation.

The growing establishment of port structures in estuarine regions has resulted in alternated sedimentation patterns and new geoforms. The primary purpose of this study is to understand the recent formation and geomorphological evolution of the fluvial bar in the final portion of the Magdalena River. The geomorphological evolution analysis was made possible using Geographic Information Systems tools, satellite images, and bathymetric data. The studied bar formed and stabilized through anthropic and natural factors such as port structures (obstacles to sediment transport), channel morphology, and natural-and anthropic-caused variation to the sediment supply. The lateral bar formation, adjacent to port structures, began in 2017 with surface runoff accumulating and anchored on the riverbank since 2018. At present, the bar covers 45% of the original river width, and an approximate sediment volume worth 4,000,000 m 3 has accumulated. Changes in the navigable channel result in slope modification from 2.02 • to 5.36 •. The construction of port structures, i.e. new pile bridges, changes the natural sediment flow, because they are obstacles, trapping sediments downstream. This period coincides with the end of a weak El Niño cycle, subsequent to a La Nina period also of low intensity, with reduced precipitation rates resulting in a decrease in flow, and therefore contributing to an increase in sedimentation. The observations suggest that it is crucial to understand the channel bars' morphology and origin to avoid possible economic and social impacts due to the disruptions in navigation.

Aquest article actualitza el coneixement florístic de les espècies que colonitzen les platges i dunes del litoral català, i identifica el grup d’espècies típiques que colonitzen aquests paisatges, així com estableix aquelles espècies restringides als hàbitats dunars, el seu rang de distribució i la seva raresa. Es van mostrejar 87 sistemes dunars a partir de transsectes ortogonals a la línia de costa, que s’estenien des de la vegetació anual de la platja alta fins a l’extrem interior del sistema dunar. Es van identificar un total de 224 espècies. El nombre va ser molt proper a l’obtingut en el càlcul del SMaoTao i dels dos estimadors de la riquesa del nombre total d’espècies, Chao2 i Jacknife2. L’anàlisi de la freqüència de les 224 espècies enregistrades va portar a establir un conjunt de 87 que es poden considerar com les espècies típiques dels hàbitats de platja i duna de la costa catalana. Entre aquestes es va identificar un grup de 34 espècies restringides als hàbitat de platja ...

Airflow dynamics, vegetation and aeolian erosive processes in a shadow zone leeward of a resort in an arid transgressive dune system ABSTRACT Structures and infrastructures can modify aeolian sedimentary dynamics as has occurred in the arid transgressive dunefield of Maspalomas (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands), where an aeolian shadow zone has been formed leeward of a tourist resort (Playa del Inglés). The aim of this paper is to examine and statistically analyse the influences of vegetation and topography on wind flow across this shadow zone. An experiment was carried out in March 2017, collecting wind speed and direction from 5 transects with anemometers at 0.40 m height. Simultaneously, a drone flight was carried out, from which an orthophoto and digital elevation and surface models (DEM and DSM) were obtained. Distance from the resort, and the presence of vegetation were found to influence transects dominated by erosional processes. Transects that do not display erosional processes were primarily affected by the presence of vegetation. The local wind field changes at a similar distance across the transects downwind from the resorts indicating an acceleration or reattachment of the wind at this distance downwind. The vegetation role in this aeolian shadow zone could be a key to the future evolution of the area resulting in either further stabilization, or alternatively, the continued deflation of the area.

The coastline influenced naturally and artificially changes dynamically. While the long-term change is influenced by the rise in the surface of the sea and the changes in water level of the rivers, the shortterm change is influenced by the tide, earthquake and storm. Also, man-made thoughtless development such as construction of embankment and reclaimed land not considering erosion and deformation of coast has been causes for breaking functions of coast and damages on natural environment. In order to manage coastal environment and resources effectively, In this study is intended to analyze and predict erosion in coastal environment and changes in sedimentation quantitatively by detecting changes in coastal line from data collection for satellite images and aerial LiDAR data. The coastal line in 2007 and 2012 was extracted by manufacturing Digital Surface Model (DSM) with Aviation LiDAR materials. For the coastal line in 2009 and 2010, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) method was used to extract the KOMPSAT-2 image selected after considering tide level and wave height. The change rate of the coastal line is varied in line with the forms of the observation target but most of topography shows a tendency of being eroded as time goes by. Compared to the relatively monotonous beach of Taean, the gravel and rock has very complex form. Therefore, there are more errors in extraction of coastlines and the combination of transect and shoreline, which affect overall changes. Thus, we think the correction of the anomalies caused by these properties is required in the future research.

La repoblació de les dunes de Guardamar i Elx, començada l’any 1900, com a exemple de bosc protector del poble, a l’empara de la legislació sobre repoblació de dunes impulsada pels enginyers de forests de finals del segle XIX, és un dels casos més citats en la bibliografia forestal. Generalment hui s’atén sobretot al resultat: un bosc artificial de pins, amb eucaliptus i palmeres. Però cal tenir en compte, per apreciar el que suposa la repoblació, quin era el medi inicial, com s’ha modificat quant a l’aspecte físic i el biòtic, quantes espècies s’assajaren fins plantar les definitives, i quin és ara el resultat botànic. Aquest és l’objectiu del present treball. Primerament exposarem les condicions ambientals i quina era la vegetació inicial de les dunes. Després vorem els canvis en el medi físic i biòtic que suposà la repoblació. L’apartat més novedós és la relació detallada de les espècies usades i de les que es van provar, encara que després la major part no en fóra emprada. Per últim, es mostra breument quin ha estat el resultat pel que fa a la flora i la vegetació després de més de cent anys.La repoblación de las dunas de Guardamar y Elche, iniciada el año 1900, como ejemplo de bosque protector del pueblo, al amparo de la legislación sobre repoblación de dunas impulsada por los ingenieros forestales de finales del siglo XIX, es uno de los casos más citados en la bibliografía forestal. Generalmente, hoy se ve sobre todo el resultado: un bosque artificial de pinos, con eucaliptos y palmeras. Pero se ha de tener en cuenta, para apreciar lo que supone la repoblación, cuál era el medio inicial, cómo se ha modificado en el aspecto físico y en el biótico, cuántas especies se ensayaron hasta que se plantaron las definitivas, y cuál es ahora el resultado botánico. Éste es el objetivo del presente trabajo. En primer lugar, expondremos las condiciones ambientales y cuál era la vegetación inicial de las dunas. Después veremos los cambios en el medio físico y el biótico que supuso la repoblación. El apartado más novedoso es la relación detallada de las especies usadas y las que se probaron, aunque después la mayor parte no fuera utilizada. Por último, se muestra brevemente cuál es el resultado en lo que respecta a la flora y la vegetación después de más de un centenar de años.The revegetation of the dunes of Guardamar and Elche, begun in 1900, as an example of the protective forest of the village, under the legislation on repopulation of dunes promoted by forest engineers of the late nineteenth century, is one of the most cited cases in the forestry library. Generally, today you see above all the result: an artificial forest of pines, with eucalyptus trees and palm trees. But it must be taken into account, in order to appreciate what repopulation implies, what was the initial medium, how it has changed in the physical aspect and in the biotic, how many species were tested until the definitive ones were planted, and what is now the botanical result. This is the object of this work. First, we will explain the environmental conditions and what was the initial vegetation to the dunes. Next, we will see the changes in the physical environment and the biotic that undertook the repopulation. The most novel section is the detailed relationship of the species used and those that were tested, although most of it was not used afterwards. Finally, it briefly shows what the result is in terms of flora and vegetation after more than a hundred years

Coastal erosion is a common phenomenon along the world’s coasts. Studying it is complex because such studies must cover large portions of land, and it is necessary to understand the multiple processes that interact in each area, so it is important to recognize regional patterns that allow for defining representativeness in relation to the surrounding dynamics. Spatial statistics can be used in coastal geomorphology to identify and quantify trends in coastal morphodynamics. This study analyzes and interprets the spatio-temporal patterns present in the changes in a shoreline, that is, the processes of erosion and coastal sedimentation in the Pacific and the Colombian Caribbean. The results are derived from the detection of significant changes in the coastline via satellite images. For this study, the shoreline of Colombia was digitized for the years 1986 and 2016, thus obtaining changes in the shoreline at a medium temporal scale. The Global Moran’s Index, Local Moran’s Index and Geti...

Large Woody Debris (LWD) accumulation serves essential ecological functions and benefits society’s coastal ecosystems (e.g., beaches). Thus far, the ecosystem services perspective has paid little attention to LWD. Therefore, we aim to contrast social perceptions on LWD and its ecological significance in Puerto Velero beach, Caribbean, Colombia. In consequence, the contribution of LWD to the conformation and creation of Puerto Velero beach was analyzed, as well as how beachgoers perceive the importance of LWD and if they were willing to pay to remove LWD in this beach. To achieve this, a quantitative convergent approach was then proposed using GIS analysis and remote sensing to understand the contributions of LWD to the Puerto Velero beach ecosystem; and in addition, a survey was performed to determine how beachgoers perceived LWD and how they valued the phenomenon. Results indicate that LWD contributed to beach maintenance; nevertheless, most people neglected LWD values because of i...

The Atrato River Delta in Northwestern Colombia has experienced notable geomorphological changes in its shoreline in recent years. We analyze these changes, associated with erosion and progradation, using Landsat imagery and Google Earth Engine (GEE) algorithms to automatically identify the changes in an annual basis over 33 years (1986–2019). We compare the results with manual delineations on the same imagery using ArcGIS, obtaining similar outcomes, although GEE is much more efficient in processing large amounts of imagery compared with handmade procedures. We identify with good accuracy trends in erosion and progradation areas along the mouths and sides of the delta. Our algorithm performs well at delineating the shorelines, although special care must be taken to clean the images from clouds and shadows that may alter the definition of the shoreline. Results show that the Atrato delta has lost around 10 km2 due to erosion and has gained around 18 km2 in progradation during the pe...

Analyzing the long-term behavior of the coastlines in the vicinity of river mouths and estuaries usually relies on the mean (predicted) values of the sediment discharge from the river. However, this approach does not consider low frequency, severe events, such as El Niño (EN), that can have a large effect on coastlines. While the effects of an EN on flooding and droughts are well studied, little information exists about its effects on coastal zones, and especially on the evolution of coastlines. In early 2017, an EN occurred in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, and the country of Peru was affected with high precipitation levels, and extreme river discharges and flooding. During this event, in the district of Lima, the Rimac River discharged a huge amount of sediment into the Callao Bay, and the shoreline accreted approximately 1 km, demonstrating the significant effects that an EN can have on coastal zones. To explore these effects, this paper studies the influence of an EN on shoreline evolution in the Callao Bay by analyzing Landsat images from 1985-2019 to understand the shoreline evolution and identify changes to the coastline. Results show that when an extraordinary EN occurs (e.g., 1982-1983, 1997-1998, and 2017), the shoreline experiences high accretion compared to when a smaller, or no EN occurs. During these events, a significant delta forms at the south end of the bay, and the redistribution of the accumulated sediment by wave action causes the accretion of the adjacent coastlines for as far as 7 km north of the river mouth. This shows the importance of these events for the wellbeing of coastlines adjacent to river mouths affected by EN.

Evolution of present coastal environments is controlled by both natural processes and anthropogenic activities, last one causing global, regional and local disturbances. This study analyze the effects of shortage of sediments from Magdalena River and tourism development in the recent shoreline morphodynamics and dune vegetation structure of the Puerto Velero spit, in the northern Colombian Caribbean coast. Shoreline position, dune vegetation and human occupation were taken from the interpretation of satellite images, aerial photographs and field trips. Three methods were applied to analyze shoreline migration. It allowed to deduce trends of very high erosion for the outer neck and moderate to high erosion for the inner neck, while the northern border and the point of the spit present an erosional trend in the outer and inner. Therefore, the outer neck and iner neck show predominance of an erosional trend, more intense for the outer one, while the northern border and particularly the point of the spit present trends of high and very high accretion. It implicates a present progradation of the spit, but a narrowing of its neck. The shortage of coastal sand due to the construction of a jettie at Magdalena River favored the formation of the spit by the erosion of the extinct Isla Verde barrier island, but currently cause erosion of the neck. Erosion of the outer and inner neck is also due to the impact of local disturbances on the backshore and dune system, mainly a rapid increase of occupation and a large circulation of people and vehicles. Dune vegetation distribution is affected by these disturbance, including the presence of invasive aloctonous Calotropis procera over a large area of the dune field. The natural climatic oscillations, particularly the negative El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, also favor the progradation of the spit. The analysis of these disturbances on the present geomorphological and ecological evolution on the spit constitutes an important instrument for coastal management.