
The Ecology of Sandy Shores
- 4th Edition - February 6, 2025
- Authors: Omar Defeo, Anton McLachlan
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 1 7 5 4 - 8
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 1 7 5 5 - 5
The Ecology of Sandy Shores, Fourth Edition provides both a holistic and conceptual introduction for the beginner, yet at the same time gives an in-depth and cutting-edge analys… Read more

Purchase options

Institutional subscription on ScienceDirect
Request a sales quoteThe Ecology of Sandy Shores, Fourth Edition provides both a holistic and conceptual introduction for the beginner, yet at the same time gives an in-depth and cutting-edge analysis for the researcher interested in sandy shores. There is no other book covering the ecology of sandy beaches, despite the extent and economic importance of these systems. This guide is designed to both introduce students to the basic principles of sandy shore ecology, to serve as a ready reference for doctoral students and researchers working on these systems, and to provide a handbook for land and coastal managers.
This new edition will focus on humans as part of the sandy beach environment, including aspects such as global change in coastal systems and its impacts on sandy littoral zones through ‘coastal squeeze’. Further, prominence will be given to resource use, such as artisanal fisheries and to the critical area of coastal zone management and governance. Considering these two main issues, the concept of sandy beaches as social-ecological systems will be developed together with an illustrative framework related to this approach.
This new edition will focus on humans as part of the sandy beach environment, including aspects such as global change in coastal systems and its impacts on sandy littoral zones through ‘coastal squeeze’. Further, prominence will be given to resource use, such as artisanal fisheries and to the critical area of coastal zone management and governance. Considering these two main issues, the concept of sandy beaches as social-ecological systems will be developed together with an illustrative framework related to this approach.
- Comprehensively covers the crucial topic of sandy shores as ecosystems, examined ecologically, environmentally, socially, and economically
- Fully updated edition of the preeminent book on sandy shores
- Focuses on human impacts and beaches as social-ecological systems
- Includes aspects such as global change in coastal systems and its impacts on sandy littoral zones through ‘coastal squeeze’
- Offers the most updated information based on recent scientific findings, presented with an illustrative framework
Students, academics, researchers, and coastal managers – could be purchased by coastal university libraries as well as libraries in all marine and oceanographic institutions, High schools, civil societies interested in coastal conservation, post-secondary educational institutions offering programs in environmental issues
- Title of Book
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1. Introduction
- Chapter 2. The Physical Environment
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 The Littoral Active Zone
- 2.3 Sand
- Particle Size
- Porosity and Permeability
- Sand Compaction and Penetrability
- 2.4 Waves
- Wave Climate
- Particle Motion
- Types of Waves
- Wave Energy
- Refraction
- Shoaling and Breaking
- Estimating Wave and Breaker Height
- Bound and Infragravity Waves: Surf Beat
- Edge Waves
- 2.5 Other Drivers of Water Movement
- Tides
- Internal Waves
- Wind
- 2.6 Sand Transport
- 2.7 Interactions among Beach Slope, Waves, Tides, and Sand
- 2.8 Beach Indices
- 2.9 Beach Types
- Wave-dominated Beaches
- Tidal Effects
- 2.10 Circulation Cells and Mixing
- 2.11 Embayments and Headlands
- 2.12 Swash Climate
- 2.13 Slope
- 2.14 Latitudinal Effects
- 2.15 Conclusions
- Chapter 3. Between the Grains: The Interstitial System
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 Characteristics of the System
- Grain Size
- Mineralogy
- Sorting
- Grain Shape
- Porosity
- Pore Size
- Permeability
- Moisture Content
- Thixotropy and Dilatancy
- 3.3 Processes of Water Input
- Groundwater Discharge
- Tides
- Beach Face Wave Run-up
- Subtidal Wave Pumping
- 3.4 Water Filtration
- Volumes and Residence Times of Tide- and Wave-driven Inputs
- Flow Patterns and Interstitial Climate
- Subtidal Wave Pumping: Input Volumes and Flow Patterns
- 3.5 Water Table Fluctuations
- Tidal Effects
- Groundwater and Swash Effects
- Influence on Beach Face Erosion/Accretion
- Zones of Interstitial Moisture
- 3.6 Interstitial Chemistry
- Temperature
- Groundwater Inputs
- Salinity
- Organic Inputs
- Oxygen Concentrations
- Nutrients
- 3.7 The Interstitial Continuum
- 3.8 Conclusions
- Chapter 4. Beach and Surf-zone Flora
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Benthic Microflora
- 4.3 Surf-zone Phytoplankton
- General Features
- Surf Diatoms
- Other Surf-Zone Forms
- 4.4 Seagrass Meadows and Connectivity with Beaches
- 4.5 Conclusions
- Chapter 5. Sandy-Beach Invertebrates
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 Important Groups
- Phylum Porifera
- Phylum Cnidaria
- Phylum Platyhelminthes
- Phylum Xenacelomorpha, Subphylum Acoelomorpha
- Phylum Gnathostomulida
- Phylum Nemertea
- Phylum Nematoda
- Phylum Acanthocephala
- Phylum Rotifera
- Phylum Gastrotricha
- Phylum Kinorhyncha
- Phylum Loricifera
- Phylum Annelida
- Clade Echiura
- Order Sipuncula
- Phylum Brachiopoda
- Phylum Mollusca
- Phylum Tardigrada
- Phylum Arthropoda
- Phylum Bryozoa
- Phylum Echinodermata
- Phylum Hemichordata
- 5.3 Conclusions
- Chapter 6. Adaptations to Sandy-Beach Life
- 6.1 Introduction
- 6.2 Locomotion
- Burrowing
- Surfing and Coping with Swash
- 6.3 Rhythms of Activity
- 6.4 Sensory Responses and Orientation
- 6.5 Choice of Habitat
- 6.6 Nutrition
- 6.7 Respiration
- 6.8 Environmental Tolerances
- 6.9 Reproduction
- 6.10 Aggregations and Gregariousness
- 6.11 Avoidance of Predators
- 6.12 Phenotypic Plasticity
- 6.13 Human-induced Shifts in Faunal Behavior
- 6.14 Conclusions
- Chapter 7. Benthic Macrofauna Communities
- 7.1 Introduction
- 7.2 Sampling
- Sample Area and Species Accumulation Curves
- Species–Area Relationships
- 7.3 Taxonomic Composition
- 7.4 Macroscale Patterns
- Species Richness
- Abundance, Biomass, and Density
- Latitude
- Factors Controlling Community Patterns
- Deconstructing Diversity Patterns along the Morphodynamic Continuum
- Other Trends: Body Size, Density, and Their Scaling
- 7.5 Mesoscale Patterns
- Beach Length
- Alongshore Variation
- Across-Shore Variation
- Zonation
- Temporal Changes in Zonation
- 7.6 Microscale Patterns: The Forgotten Dimension
- 7.7 Species Interactions
- Trophic Relations
- Wrack-Dominated Shores
- Predation
- Competition
- Mutualism and Commensalism
- Parasitism
- 7.8 Regional and Local Factors Driving Community Composition
- Disturbance, Succession, and Colonization
- Historical Effects and the Emerging Metacommunity Concept in Sandy-Beach Ecology
- 7.9 Human-Induced Shifts in Community Patterns
- 7.10 Conclusions
- Chapter 8. Benthic Macrofauna Populations
- 8.1 Introduction
- 8.2 Macroscale Patterns
- Latitude
- Beach Types, Zones, and Life Histories
- Metapopulations
- Connectivity: Genetics and Modeling
- Metapopulations and Metacommunities: A Way Forward
- Long-term Fluctuations
- 8.3 Mesoscale Patterns
- Alongshore
- Across Shore
- Temporal Changes
- 8.4 Microscale Patterns
- 8.5 Human-induced Shifts in Macrofaunal Populations
- 8.6 Conclusions
- Chapter 9. Interstitial Ecology
- 9.1 Introduction
- 9.2 Interstitial Climate
- 9.3 Sampling
- 9.4 Interstitial Biota
- 9.5 Distribution of Interstitial Fauna
- 9.6 Temporal Changes
- 9.7 Meiofaunal Communities
- 9.8 Trophic Relationships
- 9.9 Biological Interactions
- 9.10 Meiofauna as Bioindicators
- 9.11 Conclusions
- Chapter 10. Surf-Zone Zooplankton and Nekton
- 10.1 Introduction
- 10.2 Zooplankton
- Composition
- Sampling
- Adaptations
- Migrations
- Planktonic Larvae and Connectivity
- Distribution
- Biomass and Abundance
- Food and Feeding Relationships
- Human Impacts
- 10.3 Fishes
- Composition
- Sampling
- Larvae, Juveniles, and Nursery Areas
- Surf-Zone Fish Assemblages
- Temporal Variability
- Spatial Variability
- Trophic Relationships
- Human Impacts, Connectivity, and Conservation
- 10.4 Other Groups
- 10.5 Conclusions
- Chapter 11. Other Marine and Terrestrial Vertebrates
- 11.1 Introduction
- 11.2 Turtles
- Migrations, Homing, and Arribadas
- Nesting
- Threats and Conservation
- 11.3 Birds
- Seasonality and Migrations
- Foraging
- Nesting
- Human Impacts, Conservation and Management
- 11.4 The Scale Dependence of Sea Turtle and Shorebird Conservation
- 11.5 Conclusions
- Chapter 12. Beach Ecosystems: Energy Flow, Nutrient Cycling, and Connectivity
- 12.1 Introduction
- 12.2 Food Sources
- 12.3 Macroscopic Food Webs
- Energy Flow and Turnover Rates
- Examples of Macroscopic Food Webs
- India
- Scotland
- Western Australia
- Western Cape, South Africa
- Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Uruguay
- Food Web Dynamics and Trophic Niche Shifts
- Variable Land-Derived Food Sources
- Other Spatiotemporal Variations in Organic Inputs
- 12.4 Interstitial Food Webs
- Scotland and India
- Western Cape
- Eastern Cape
- 12.5 The Microbial Loop in Surf Waters
- 12.6 Energy Flow in Beach and Surf-Zone Ecosystems
- 12.7 Case Study: Sandy Beaches of the Eastern Cape
- 12.8 Nutrient Cycling
- Source/Sink Dynamics in Terms of Nutrient Cycling
- 12.9 Charting a Path Forward: Meta-Ecosystems
- 12.10 Conclusions
- Chapter 13. Coastal Dune Ecosystems and Dune–Beach Interactions
- 13.1 Introduction
- 13.2 The Physical Environment
- 13.3 Coastal Dune Formation by Vegetation
- 13.4 Dune Types
- 13.5 Edaphic Features
- 13.6 Water
- 13.7 The Gradient Across Coastal Dunefields
- 13.8 Dune Vegetation
- 13.9 The Fauna
- 13.10 Food Webs
- 13.11 Dune–Beach Exchanges and Connectivity
- 13.12 Human Impacts
- 13.13 Conclusions
- Chapter 14. Fisheries
- 14.1 Introduction
- 14.2 Fishery Types, Resources, and Extraction Practices
- Fishery Types
- Resources and Extraction Practices
- Surf-Zone Fauna
- Supralittoral and Intertidal Benthic Invertebrates
- Beach-cast Macroalgae
- 14.3 Fisheries as Social–Ecological Systems
- System Structure
- Main Components
- Relevant Ecological Issues for Assessing and Managing the SES
- Spatial Structure
- Metapopulations
- Density-dependent and Environmental Factors
- Ecological Effects of Fishing
- External Drivers
- 14.4 Harvesting Phases and Long-Term Trends
- Harvesting Phases
- Long-term Bioeconomic Trends
- 14.5 Assessment
- Information Requirements for Monitoring Stock Condition
- Fishery Performance Indicators
- Four Sustainability Pillars: Ecological, Economic, Social, and Institutional
- Assessing Trends in Reference Points
- 14.6 Governance and Management
- Governance
- Management
- Single Species and the EAF
- Operational Management Strategies
- Spatially Explicit Strategies
- Territorial Use Rights and Privileges
- Harmonizing Scales in Management and Governance: Social–Ecological and Institutional Fit
- 14.7 Conclusions
- Chapter 15. Human Impacts
- 15.1 Introduction
- 15.2 Recreation
- Off-road Vehicles
- Trampling and Related Recreational Activities
- 15.3 Fouling
- Beach Cleaning
- Eutrophication: Green and Golden Tides
- 15.4 Pollution
- Crude Oil Pollution
- Plastics and Microplastics
- Sewage and Organic Enrichment
- Heavy Metals
- Effluents
- 15.5 Biological Invasions
- 15.6 Nourishment
- 15.7 Mining
- 15.8 Coastal Development and Engineering
- The Role of Human Pressure
- Disrupting Sediment Transport
- Impacts on Fauna
- 15.9 Urbanization
- Urbanization Components and Metrics
- Artificial Light at Night
- Urbanization and Morphodynamics: The Cumulative Harshness Hypothesis
- 15.10 Impact Assessments
- Assessment Approaches, Warnings, and Perspectives
- Indicators
- The Triad Approach in Pollution Assessments
- Toxicity Studies
- Multiple Exposure and Multidimensional Frameworks for Impact Assessments
- 15.11 Human Influence on the Evolution of Beaches
- 15.12 Conclusions
- Chapter 16. Climate Change
- 16.1 Introduction
- 16.2 Climate Change: Main Drivers and Potential Effects on the Sandy-Beach Habitat
- Ocean Warming
- Sea-Level Rise
- Sea-Level Pressure and Winds
- Heatwaves and Other Extreme Events
- Acidification
- Climate Change and Urbanization in Synergy: Coastal Squeeze
- Compound Effects of Climate and Non-climate Drivers
- 16.3 Conceptual Basis for Testing Climate-Change Impacts on Beaches
- 16.4 Climate Change and Sandy-Beach Fauna
- Life Histories and Differential Responses to Climate Change
- Distribution, Range Shifts, Mass Mortalities, and Extirpations
- Behavior and Related Responses
- Demography and Population Dynamics
- Diseases
- Community and Ecosystem Responses
- Regime Shifts and Tipping Points
- Methodological Approaches and Concerns
- 16.5 Socioeconomic Effects, Management, and Governance
- Socioeconomic Implications of Climate Change
- Management and Governance of Climate-Change Effects
- 16.6 Case Study: Sandy Beaches in the Southwest Atlantic
- Effects on the Environment
- Effects on the Biota at Different Organizational Levels
- Socioeconomic Impacts
- 16.7 Conclusions
- Chapter 17. Management
- 17.1 Introduction
- 17.2 Ecosystem Services, Ecological Infrastructure, and Bundles
- 17.3 The Fragile Littoral Active Zone
- 17.4 Management Principles and Tools
- Principle 1: Manage the LAZ as a Unit and Acknowledge Its Interconnectedness with Adjacent Ecosystems
- Identify the Basic Physical Processes and Scales Relevant to the LAZ
- Recognize the Basic Ecological Features of Beaches and Dunes
- Protect the Foredunes as a Buffer
- Employ Setbacks to Allow Landward Retreat and Keep the LAZ Intact
- Address LAZ Interconnectedness with Adjacent Ecosystems
- Case Study. The Implications of Interfering with LAZ Sand Budgets: Headland Bypass Dunes in Cape St. Francis, South Africa
- Principle 2: Assess Shoreline Evolution and Erosion Hazards
- Principle 3: Determine Pollution, Health, and Safety Levels
- Principle 4: Undertake Environmental Impact Assessments
- Principle 5: Develop Management Plans
- Objectives, Components, and Phases
- Restoration, Rehabilitation, and Mitigation: Designing with Nature
- Principle 6: Control Access and Estimate Carrying Capacity
- Principle 7: Set Spatially Explicit Management Strategies for Multiple Use Planning
- Mesoscale Zoning
- Macroscale Zoning: Beach Management Units and Protected Areas
- Megascale Zoning: Managing Beyond the Beach
- Principle 8: Manage Sandy-Beach Services as Social–Ecological Systems
- Principle 9: Address Governance Structure and Processes
- Principle 10: Identify Relevant External Drivers and Their Scales of Influence
- 17.5 Dealing with Multiple Management Objectives
- Core Management Approaches
- Managing for Recreation, Conservation, and Multipurpose Use
- Case Studies
- Enhancing Beach Management Through Coastal Scenery Assessment
- Conservation and the Role of Protected Areas
- Are Sandy-Beach Ecosystems at Risk?
- 17.6 Conclusions
- Chapter 18. Epilogue
- Appendix: The Chemical Environment of Sediments
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
- No. of pages: 900
- Language: English
- Edition: 4
- Published: February 6, 2025
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Paperback ISBN: 9780443217548
- eBook ISBN: 9780443217555
OD
Omar Defeo
Dr Defeo has been active in the field of marine sciences since receiving his PhD in 1993. His fields of interest are human impact in coastal marine communities and populations, stock assessment and management, population dynamics of exploited marine stocks and sandy beach ecology. He has won many awards for his research and consultancy work, including the 2010 Elsevier Scopus Prize for Uruguay. He has published over 130 works to date.
Affiliations and expertise
Faculty of Sciences, Montevideo, UruguayAM
Anton McLachlan
Dr McLachlan has had a long and established career in beach ecology. He has worked around the world and has headed up multiple departments and research institutions including: the Director for the Institute for Coastal Research, Chair of the Dept. of Zoology and has held a number of Dean positions at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman. He has over 90 publications to date.
Affiliations and expertise
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South AfricaRead The Ecology of Sandy Shores on ScienceDirect