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Dune heath habitats of northwest Ireland

Rachel Kempson

Word count: 11,450

Thesis submitted for the degree of MSc Conservation, Dept of Geography,

UCL (University College London)

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Abstract(!Dune!heath!habitats!primarily!consisting!of!Decalcified!fixed!dunes!with!Empetrum(nigrum!and!Atlantic!decalcified!fixed!dunes!(Calluno0Ulicetea)!are!listed!as!priority!habitats!on!the!Habitats!Directive.!!These!habitats!are!of!particular!priority!due!to!the!limited!range!of!the!characteristic!vegetation!which!exists!in!few! locations! in! northwestern! Ireland.! ! Despite! listed! as! a! priority! habitat! it! seems! that! little!investigation! has! been! undertaken! to! establish! ecological! insight! into! these! habitats.! ! Therefore,! this!study! has! investigated! three! sites! along! the!west! coast! of! Co.! Donegal!where! these! two! dune! heath!habitats! occur! to! assess! their! species! assemblages! and! communities! and! to! investigate! and! evaluate!relationships!between!vegetation!communities!and!the!wider!environment.!!It!was!found!that!variation!exists! within! the! dune! heath! habitats! of! western! Donegal! between! sites! and! within! sites.! ! It! was!established!that!there!are!a!confounding!number!of!environmental!influences!that!determine!variations!in! species! and! community! composition.! ! This! complexity! is! attempted! to! be! further! understood! to!contribute! to! the! conservation! of! these! priority! habitats! that! are! likely! to! become! increasingly!threatened!in!the!face!of!climate!change.!

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Contents(1. Introduction! 1

1.1. Sand!dune!formation!and!dynamics! 1 1.2. Sand!dune!vegetation!and!succession!–!Species!assemblages! 2 1.3. Edaphic!context! 3 1.4. Dune!heath! 3 1.5. Threats!to!dune!habitats! 4 1.6. Aims!and!Objectives! 4

2. Study!Area! 5 2.1. Regional!setting! 5 2.2. Climate! 5 2.3. West!Donegal! 6

2.3.1. Loughros!Bay! 6 2.3.2. Keadew! 7

3. Methodology! 8 3.1. Field!sampling! 8 3.2. Analytical!procedures! 9 3.3. Data!Analysis! 10 3.4. GIS!Analysis! 11

4. Results! 12 4.1. Physical!characteristics! 12 4.2. Dune!ecology! 14

4.2.1. Vegetation!assemblages!–!Species!and!communities! 14 4.2.2. Environmental!factors! 20 4.2.3. Wider!dune!environment! 25

5. Discussion! 29 5.1. Dune!heath!ecology! 29 5.2. Environmental!controls!on!dune!heath!development! 30 5.3. Community!composition!and!classification! 31 5.4. Conservation!of!dune!heath!habitats! 32

6. Conclusion! 34 7. References! 35 8. Appendix! 40

8.1. Ordination!output!tables! 40 8.2. Species!lists!indicating!those!present!at!all!sites!or!occurrence!at!one!particular!site! 42 8.3. Species!abbreviations! 44

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List(of(figures(Figure!1!Dune!morphology!as!a!function!of!sediment!supply![Source:!Carter,!(1990)]! 1 Figure!2!Environmental!gradients!across!a!sand!dune!system![Source:!Carter!et(al.!(1990)].! 2 Figure!3!Climate!30!year!average!report,!Malin!Head!(1961_!1990)![Source:!Irish!Meteorological!Service,!(2010)].! 5 Figure! 4! Regional! setting! of! Loughros! estuaries! and! Maghera! and! Magheramore! sites! [Source:!(Burningham,!2008)].! 7 Figure!5!Coastal!Monitoring!Project!habitat!mapping!of!sites! 7 Figure!6!Sample!point!locations! 8 Figure! 7! Photographs! showing! a)! view! looking! north_east! across! the! Maghera! site;! b)! example! of!characteristic!vegetation!found!on!the!headland!at!Magheramore;!c)!dune!heath!area!at!Magheramore,!located! central! within! complex;! and! d)! area! currently! mapped! as! dune! heath! at! Mullyvea,!Magheramore.! 13 Figure!8!Example!of!characteristic!dune!vegetation!found!at!Keadew! 14 Figure!9!Contribution!of!species!to!site!composition.! 15 Figure!10!Communities!defined!by!indicator!species!analysis! 16 Figure! 11! Number! of! samples! from! each! site! associated! with! each! dune! grassland! branch! defined!community!–!Community!numbers!correspond!with!communities!defined!in!Figure!10! 17 Figure!12!Number!of!samples!from!each!site!associated!with!each!ericaceous!branch!defined!community!–!Community!numbers!correspond!with!communities!defined!in!Figure!10! 18 Figure!13!Variation!in!environmental!parameters!between!sites!studied! 21 Figure! 14! RDA! ordination! plot! for! Keadew! site:! Arrows! represent! environmental! variables;! Species!labelled!and!points!represent!distribution!of!samples!in!relation!to!species!and!environmental!variables.! 22 Figure! 15! RDA! ordination! plot! for! Maghera! site:! Arrows! represent! environmental! variables;! Species!labelled!and!points!represent!distribution!of!samples!in!relation!to!species!and!environmental!variables.! 23 Figure!16!RDA!ordination!plot!for!Magheramore!site:!Arrows!represent!environmental!variables;!Species!labelled!and!points!represent!distribution!of!samples!in!relation!to!species!and!environmental!variables.!Red! =! Carrickahalagh!headland;!Green!=!Mullyvea!outcrop;! Blue;!Dune!heath!patch,! central! complex;!Yellow!=!Rest!of!samples! 23 Figure! 17! Variation! in! environmental! parameters! between! user_defined! communities! derived! from!Figure!10! 25 Figure!18!%!Coverage!of!A.arenaria!across!sites! 26 Figure!19!%!coverage!C.vulgaris!across!sites! 26 Figure!20!%!cover!of!E.nigrum!across!sites! 27 Figure!21!%!coverage!of!J.(communis(ssp.(nana!and!S.(nigricans!at!Magheramore! 27 Figure!22!Community!classifications!–!Top!row:!C3!–!C7!user!defined!communities!per!site;!Middle!row:!NVC! communities! per! site;! Bottom! row:! CORINE! units! per! site.! ! Left! column:! Keadew! site! different!classifications;!Middle! column:!Maghera! site! different! classification;! Right! column:!Magheramore! site!different!classifications! 28 !

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Acknowledgements(!Thanks! are! due! to! Tim! Roderick,! Emer! Magee! and! other! staff! from! the! National! Parks! and!Wildlife!Service!Ireland!for!providing!support!and!accommodation.!!Thanks!are!also!due!to!the!members!of!the!geography! laboratory! for! their! help! during! lab! work.! ! Further! thanks! are! due! to! my! fellow! MSc!Conservation!students!for!general!discussions!and!to!Dr!Fred!Rumsey!(botanist)!at!the!Natural!History!Museum!for!assistance!with!the!identification!of!species.!!Finally,!special!thanks!are!due!to!Dr!Helene!Burningham!for!being!a!brilliant!supervisor!and!inspiring!me!to!study!Irish!sand!dunes!!!

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1. Introduction(!1.1. Sand(dune(formation(and(dynamics(!Coastal!sand!dunes!are!dynamic!habitats!and!are!characterised!by!geomorphological!diversity!determined!by! sedimentation! processes,! climatic! setting,! both! past! and! present,! and! ecological! factors.! ! The! main!physical! factors! that!determine!the!occurrence!of!sand!dunes!are! the!availability!of!sand!sized!sediment,!adequate!wind! to! transport! it! and! accommodation! space! for! the! deposition! of! this! sediment!within! the!coastal!zone!(Labuz,!2005).!!The!sediment!that!constitutes!sand!dunes!is!predominantly!fine!grained!and!is!highly!calcareous!due!to!the!large!concentrations!of!shell!material!which!is!often!preferentially!transported!by!wind!as!particles!are!less!dense!than!that!of!quartz!sand!grains.!!Therefore,!areas!exposed!to!wind!may!have! high! localised! concentrations! of! shell! material! (Barrett_Mold,! 2007).! ! Additionally,! sediment! is!comprised! of! unaltered! parent! material! consisting! of! weathered! rocks! from! the! surrounding! geology!(Anwar,! 2009).! Sand! dunes! are! geomorphologically! diverse! as! a! result! of! their! physical! setting! and! a!function! of! sediment! supply! (Figure! 1).! ! Geomorphological! development! within! dune! formations! is!dependent!upon!wind! velocity,! sand! transport! and!plant!density,! distribution,! height! and! cover! (Barrett_Mold,! 2007).! ! The! morphology! of! dunes! tends! to! formulate! a! progression! landward! from!more!mobile!forms! to! fixed! dunes! that! characteristically! occur! over! a! chronosequence.! ! Embryo! dunes! are! the! initial!stage!of!dune!development.!!Foredunes!arise!from!embryo!dunes.!!Foredunes!progress!into!fixed!dunes!as!more! dunes! are! created! on! the! seaward! side! of! the! system! causing! older! dunes! to! migrate! landwards!becoming!more!sheltered,!causing!wind!velocities!to!drop!and!preventing!sand!accretion.! !Therefore,!the!dune! ceases! to! grow! and! becomes! increasingly! stable.! ! The! sediment! of! the! wider! littoral! unit! is! a!fundamental!factor!determining!the!presence!of!dunes!and!their!morphology!(Barrett_Mold,!2007).!

!Figure(1(Dune(morphology(as(a(function(of(sediment(supply([Source:(Carter,((1990)]!

!Furthermore,! dune! formations! can! occur! on! a! variety! of! types! of! shoreline,! from! low,! gently! sloping!surfaces! to!cliffed!coasts!and! is!overall! the! function!of! sediment!grain! size,! characteristics!of! the!profiles!and! the!wind! regime! (Carter!et(al.! 1990).! !Available!accommodation! space! for! coastal!dune! formation! is!dependent!upon!the!wider!coastline!geomorphology!resulting!in!different!types!of!coastal!dunes.!!Dune!systems!need!to!be!situated! in!the!broader!environmental!context!as!they!are! integral!parts!of!the!wider! coastal! system! exchanging!mass,! energy,! biota! and! information! through! feedback! processes! with!adjoining! ecosystems.! ! According! to! Carter! et( al.! (1990)! dunes! play! a! strongly! deterministic! part! in! the!ecosystem!as!many!biological!gradients!(shelter/exposure,!water!abundance/deficit,!saline/fresh,!nutrient!

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rich/poor)! are! interrelated! with! physiographic! variation.! ! However,! these! gradients! and! the! processes!which!form!them!operate!at!different!scales!both!within!and!between!dune!systems!(Figure!2).!!

!Figure(2(Environmental(gradients(across(a(sand(dune(system([Source:(Carter(et#al.((1990)].(

!1.2. Sand(dune(vegetation(and(succession(–(Species(assemblages(!Sand!dunes!are!semi_terrestrial!ecosystems!and!therefore!vegetation!is!an!important!component!of!these!habitats.! ! Vegetation! plays! a! pivotal! role! in! the! development! of! coastal! dune! systems,! as! the! degree! of!vegetation! stabilisation! is! a! significant! factor! in! determining! the! mobility! of! the! system! (Barrett_Mold,!2007).! !Coastal!dune!vegetation!can!be!broadly!categorised! into!sand!fixing!and!sand!building!vegetation!(Carter,! 1991).! ! Dune! systems! are! considered! classical! examples! of! patterns! of! zonation! and! ecological!succession.!!Ecological!succession!is!the!process!where!vegetation!in!a!particular!locality!changes!with!time!and! one! unstable! community! progressively! concedes! until! a! stable! climax! community! is! established!(Slingsby! and! Cook,! 1986).! ! The! natural! zonation! of! plant! species! that! exists! is! typically! described! by!community!classification!systems!such!as!the!National!Vegetation!Classifications!(NVC)!and!the!EU!CORINE!units.!!!!Species!composition!and!diversity!are!determined!by!key!factors!such!as!salt!spray,!mechanical!stress!(from!moving! sand),! nutrient! availability! and! water! supply! (Grunewald! and! Schubert,! 2007;! Greaver! and!Sternberg,!2006;!Moreno_Casasola,!1986).!!Embryo!dunes!are!colonised!by!various!pioneer!species!of!grass,!such!as!Ammophila(arenaria!and!Carex(arenaria;!the!roots!of!these!species!act!to!stabilise!the!sand!(King,!1989).! ! Stabilisation! of! the! foredunes! is! associated! with! the! occurrence! of! mosses! and! an! increase! in!diversity! of! perennial! and! annual! plant! species.! ! As! interspecies! competition! becomes! more! intense! as!succession! proceeds,! Ammophila( arenaria! becomes! increasingly! less! successful! and! decreases! in!abundance!(Dowdeswell,!1984).!!The!physiochemical!conditions!across!the!dune!vary!and!this!is!reflected!in!both!the!vegetation!species!and!communities!present.!!Characteristic!species!of!fixed!dunes!include!grasses!such!as!Festuca(rubra,!Luzula(campestris!and!herbs!such!as!Galium(verum.! !As!species!diversity!increases,!inter_species! competition! becomes! the! dominant! factor! controlling! species! presence! or! absence!(Grunewald! and! Schubert,! 2007).! ! According! to!Anwar! (2009)! plant! communities! are! demarcated!by! the!interaction!between!preference!of!plant!species!and!sandy!substrate;!high!wind!velocities;!salt!spray;!sand!accretion!and!environmental!heterogeneity;!a!consequence!of!both!biotic!and!abiotic!forces.!!

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1.3. Edaphic(context(!Soil! is!an! important!component!of!ecosystems!and!certain!variables!effect! the!composition!of!vegetation!present.!!Coastal!sand!dunes!provide!a!unique!environment!to!investigate!and!evaluate!how!environmental!controls!affect!micro_environmental!factors!essential!for!plant!growth!(Anwar,!2009).!!Edaphic!patterns!are!commonly! very! complex! due! to! interaction! and! alternation! between! geomorphological! and! biological!processes.!!Coastal!dunes!located!in!more!humid!climates!are!characterised!by!rapid!leaching,!acidification!due!to!high!permeability,!low!water!storage!capacity!and!low!acid!buffering!ability!of!sands!(Sevink,!1991).!!Dune!soils!are! inherently!calcareous! in!nature;!however!this!can!vary! in!accordance!to!sediment! input!to!the!system.!!Volume!of!blown!sand!to!the!system!decreases!with!distance!from!the!coast.!!As!fixed!dunes!are!established,! sand!accumulation! is! reduced!or!halted;! therefore! calcareous! shell!material! is!no! longer!delivered! to! the! dune! and! CaCO3! begins! to! leach! out,! resulting! in! a! decrease! in! pH! (Grunewald! and!Schubert,!2007).!!The!process!of!soil!development!can!be!viewed!within!the!soil!profile!that!consists!of!an!unsorted,!unaltered!layer!of!parent!material!to!distinct!horizons!through!the!process!of!podsolisation.!!The!surface! horizon! is! characterised! by! leaching! and! litter! accumulation,! containing! carbonates! (Ca++)! and!magnesium!(Mg++)!and!oxides!of! iron!and!aluminium.! !As! leaching!occurs,! these!cations!are!precipitated!downwards!into!lower!soil!layers,!resulting!in!a!decrease!in!pH!(Anwar,!2009).!!!Moisture!content!in!sandy!soils!is!one!of!the!most!constraining!factors!on!plant!growth!(Anwar,!2009).!!The!macroclimate!can!influence!soil!pedogenesis!and!the!development!of!the!soil!profile!is!accelerated!in!areas!with! high! precipitation! because! of! increased! decomposition! of! organic! matter.! ! Furthermore,! evenly!distributed!rainfall!throughout!the!year!promotes!growth!and!the!establishment!of!vegetation,! increasing!the! overall! organic! input! to! the! system.! ! Vegetation! has! a!major! influence! on! the!micro_environmental!conditions! of! soil! habitats! as! it! stabilises! soil! surface,! adds! humus,! develops! shade,! facilitates! the!development!of! soil! structure!and!prevents!moisture! loss! (Anwar,!2009).! !An! increase! in!organic! content!results! in!a!further! increase! in!soil!moisture!and! increases!nitrogen!mineralisation!(Berendse!et(al.!1998).!!Coastal! dune! soils! are! generally! nutrient! poor! and! lack! the!macronutrients! of! nitrogen,! phosphorus! and!potassium.! ! Willis! and! Yemm! (1961)! illustrated! that! sparse! growth! of! vegetation! was! primarily! due! to!deficient! resources! of! nitrogen! and! phosphorus! in! comparison! to! other! environmental! stresses.! ! Plants!survive! in! nutrient_poor! conditions! through! symbiotic! relationships! with! microorganisms! (mycorrhiza)!contained! in! the! rhizosphere,! nutrients! contained! in! saltspray,! precipitation! and! the! accumulation! of!organic!matter!(Anwar,!2009).!!1.4. Dune(heath(!The! definition! of! dune! heath! is! based! on! the! plant! communities! present.! ! In! coastal! dune! systems! a!gradient!exists!determined!by!sediment/soil!mobility,!with!higher!mobility!associated!with!dynamic!embryo!dunes! dominated! by!A.( arenaria! and! low!mobility! in! fixed! decalcified! dune! heath!with!E.( nigrum! and!C.(vulgaris.! ! C.( vulgaris! is! a! characteristic! heathland! species! and! a! strict! calcifuge! but! can! be! present! on!calcareous!soils!(Leake!et(al.!1990).!!Factors!affecting!compositional!variability!include!habitat!maturity,!soil!stability! and!nutrient_limited!productivity,!with!water_limited!productivity! and!peat! accumulation!only!of!relevance! to! older! successional! stages! (Frederiksen! et( al.! 2006).! ! Stabilised! dunes! with! dune! heath!communities!tend!to!be!located!landward!towards!the!interior!of!the!coastal!dune!system.!!Frederiksen!et!al.! (2006)! believe! that! the! development! of! dune! heath! communities! implies! a! mutual! action! between!existing!vegetation!and!soil!development!with!formation!of!an!acid!peaty!soil.!!

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Currently,! there!are!only! four! sites! recorded!with!Decalcified! fixed!dunes!with!E.(nigrum! in!Co.!Donegal,!Ireland!and!seven!sites!with!Atlantic!decalcified!fixed!dunes!(Calluno0Ulicetea)!mainly!located!in!Co.!Mayo!and! Co.! Donegal! (Ryle! et( al.! 2009).! ! Designated! as! priority! habitats! in! the! EU! Habitats! Directive,! these!habitats!are!of!international!importance!due!to!the!limited!range!of!the!characteristic!vegetation!(Provoost!et( al.! 2002).! ! Therefore,! basic! ecological! insight! of! these! habitats! is! important! and! demands! special!attention.! ! There! is! still! ongoing! investigation! and! thought! into! deciphering! the! considerable! number! of!variables!affecting!successional!progression!not!only! in!different!ecosystems!but!within!ecosystems.! !The!discrepancy! is! primarily! related! to! basic! assumptions! and! many! confounding! factors! (Anwar,! 2009).!!Therefore,! further! investigation! into! the! specificities! of! dune! heath! communities! and! the! environmental!situation!these!habitats!reside!in!is!of!considerable!value!for!knowledge!to!conserve!these!priority!habitats.!!1.5. Threats(to(dune(habitats(!Coastal!dune!habitats!are!vulnerable!and!threatened!ecosystems!(van!der!Meulen!et(al.!2004).! !The!area!coverage!of!coastal!dunes!in!Europe!has!decreased!by!40%!since!1900!and!by!approximately!one!third!since!the!1970s!(O’Briain,!2005).!!Dune!heath!is!a!rare!habitat!and!is!seriously!endangered!due!to!dune!fixation,!invasive!alien!species,!climate!change!and!tourism!(Frederiksen!et(al.!2006).!!1.6. Aims(and(Objectives(!The! aim! of! this! study! is! to! improve! the! understanding! of! the! environmental! controls! and! their! relative!importance! on! the! vegetation! communities! and! distribution! of! dune! heath! habitats! in! west! Donegal.!!Furthering!the!understanding!of!these!habitats!should!contribute!fundamentally!towards!the!conservation!of!these!coastal!dune!systems.!!In!order!to!assess!these!factors!the!objectives!of!the!study!are:!!

1) To!examine!the!habitat!characteristics!of!three!known!dune!heath!sites!2) To!assess!the!influence!of!environmental!variables!on!dune!heath!vegetation!3) To!evaluate!the!plant!species!communities!occurring!in!these!coastal!dune!sites!4) To!evaluate!the!conservation!of!dune!heath!

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2. Study(Area(!2.1. Regional(setting(!Coastal!dunes!are!more!prevalent!and!expansive!on!windward!coasts,!especially!areas!with!an!abundant!source!of!suitably!textured!sediment,!such!as!the!Atlantic!coasts!of!northwest!Europe!(Carter!et(al.!1990).!!The! Atlantic! western! coast! of! Ireland! is! highly! indented! with! a! complex! of! coastal! estuaries,! exhibiting!considerable!variation!in!shoreline!orientation.!!The!west!Donegal!coastline!lies!within!the!mixed!‘wave_tide!dominated’! part! of! the! coastal! energy! spectrum.! ! The! physiography! of! which! is! dominated! by! regional!geological! structure! and! glacial!modification,!which! determines! the! size! and! orientation! of! embayments!(Burningham,!2005).!!It!supports!numerous!dune!fields!derived!largely!from!glacigenic!deposits!in!the!area!of!the!present!continental!shelf!(Carter!and!Wilson,!1993;!Burningham!and!Cooper,!2004).!!By!4000!yrs!BP,!the!majority!of!Irish!dunes!had!become!stabilised!signifying!a!declining!rate!of!sediment!supply,!tightening!vegetation!control! likely!to!be!accompanied!by!development!of!organic_rich!soils,!carbonate! leaching!and!enhanced!water! retention!and!overall!morphodynamic! change! (Carter!and!Wilson,!1993).! !Over! the!past!century,!the!development!of!many!north_west!European!dune!systems!have!been!characterised!by!stability!(Isermann!and!Cordes,!1992;!Provoost!and!Van!Landuyt,!2001;!Provoost!et!al.!2009;!Rhind!et!al.!2001;!van!der!Maarel!et!al.!1985).!!Despite!showing!signs!of!stability,!these!dune!systems!are!still!dynamic!and!on!a!local!scale!some!systems!appear!to!be!undergoing!periodic!episodes!of!growth!and!erosion.!!2.2. Climate(!The!climate!of!the!study!area!is!maritime!and!conditions!are!dominated!by!frequent!frontal!depressions!to!the!northwest!of!Ireland!combined!with!the!warm!south_westerly!Gulf!stream!(Gaynor,!2006).!!Northwest!Ireland!is!renowned!to!be!one!of!the!most!exposed!and!windiest!coastlines!in!Europe!(Troen!and!Petersen,!1989! in! Carter! and!Wilson,! 1993).! ! Figure! 3! illustrates! regional! climatic! conditions.! ! There! is! a! relatively!narrow! range! in!monthly!mean! temperatures,!with!moderately!high!precipitation!and!wind! speeds! (Irish!Meteorological! Office,! 2010).! ! The! dominant! wind! direction! is! between! south! and! west,! predominantly!onshore!along!the!western!coast.! !Regional!variation!exists!within!annual!precipitation!amounts!with! the!west!experiencing!twice!as!much!rainfall!(1400mm)!as!the!east!(700mm)!(Gaynor,!2006).!!

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Mean=total= precipitation=(mm)

Mean=temperature=(°C)

Mean=wind=speed=(knots)

!Figure(3(Climate(30(year(average(report,(Malin(Head((1961W(1990)([Source:(Irish(Meteorological(Service,((2010)].(

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2.3. West(Donegal(!The! sites! studied!are! situated!on!west! facing! coastal! estuarine! systems! that! are! characteristic!of! the!Co.!Donegal!coastline!(Burningham,!2005).! !These!systems!are! inherently!dynamic!and!are!typically!bound!by!dune!and/or!bedrock!margins!(Burningham,!2002).!!Metamorphic!rocks!underlie!most!of!the!seaward!parts!of! the! estuary,! in! particular! the! Loughros! Group! and! Upper! Falcarragh! Pelites! and! Falcarragh! limestone!which!are!covered!by!aeolian!sand!deposits.!!The!majority!of!the!inland!area!of!the!estuary!is!underlain!by!igneous! granodiorite! intrusions! (NPWS,! 2005).! ! These! granodiorite! intrusions! are! unique! geological!formations!that!only!occur!within!the!northwest!of!Ireland,!particularly!specific!to!the!Donegal!area.!!2.3.1. Loughros!Bay!!The!Magheramore!site!is!incorporated!within!the!boundaries!of!the!West!of!Ardara/Maas!Road!SAC!which!is! listed! for! six! EU! Annex! I! priority! habitats! and! fifteen! other! Annex! I! habitats! (Murray,! 2000).! ! The!Magheramore! sand! dune! and! machair! system! is! an! expansive! system! located! on! the! northern! side! of!Loughros!More!which! is! a! drowned! estuary.! ! This! dune! system! covers! 280ha! and! is! geomorphologically!diverse!containing!embryonic,!shifting!and!fixed!dune,!machair,!blowouts!and!slack!habitats.!!A!sequence!of!high! fixed! dune! ridges! flank! Tramore! in! the! west! and! Ballinreavy! strand! in! the! east,! either! side! of! the!Carrickahalagh!headland!(Murray,!2000)(Figure!4).!!Towards!Mullyvea!there!exists!an!area!of!dunes!located!on!a!central!rocky!headland!dominated!by!Juniperus(communis(ssp.(nana.! !This!community!occurs!over!a!thin!sandy!substrate!underlain!by!bedrock.!!Presently,!this!habitat!has!not!been!defined,!despite!currently!mapped! as! ‘dune! heath’! (Figure! 5).! ! Further! investigation! is! required! as! this! area! may! need! to! be!reclassified! and!possibly! assigned! to! an! EU!Annex! I! category! associated!with! J.( communis! formations! on!calcareous!heaths/grasslands.!!Small!patches!of!dune!heath!_!~2ha!of!Decalcified!fixed!dunes!with!E.(nigrum!and!~40ha!Atlantic!decalcified!fixed!dunes!(Calluno0Ulicetea)!exist!in!areas!of!exposed!rock!and!towards!the!Carrickahalagh!headland!(Murray,!2000).!!Localised!patches!of!decalcified!dunes!with!E.nigrum!are!located!on!the!central!headland,! these!areas!of!heath!occur!on!sand!substrate!overlying!bedrock! to! the!seaward!edge,!progressing!to!fixed!dunes!further!inland.!!Atlantic!decalcified!fixed!dunes!(Calluno0Ulicetea)!occur!on!the! Carrickahalagh! headland,! which! is! a! transitional! area! including! a! mosaic! from! wet! heath! and! mire!vegetation!to!fixed!dune!and!dune!slack,!including!patches!of!decalcified!dune!heath!with!E.(nigrum.! !The!Magheramore!area!is!lightly!grazed,!principally!by!cattle!and!rabbits,!however!the!area!could!benefit!from!more!intensive!grazing!in!places.!!The!fixed!dune!located!around!the!caravan!site!is!subjected!to!trampling!and!erosion!pressure!by!visitors!contributing!to!natural!erosion!(Murray,!2000).!!Maghera!is!located!on!the!southern!side!of!the!Loughros!Beg!estuary.!!This!site!is!an!expansive!dune!system!of!about!100!ha!displaying!the!complete!suite!of!sand!dune!communities!from!embryonic!through!to!fixed!dune! and! dune! heath! (Figure! 5).! ! This! site! is! affronted! by! one! of! the! widest! ‘beaches! in! Ireland,!approximately!0.8km!from!the!dune!front!to!the!mean!high!water!mark!(Carter!and!Wilson,!1993).!!

7!

!Figure(4(Regional(setting(of(Loughros(estuaries(and(Maghera(and(Magheramore(sites([Source:((Burningham,(2008)].(

!2.3.2. Keadew!!The! area!of! Keadew! is! regarded! to!be! a! fine! example!of! both!decalcified!dune!heath!with!E.nigrum! and!Atlantic!decalcified!fixed!dunes!(Calluno0Ulicetea).! !However,!the!area!surveyed!within!this!study!was!not!mapped!as!dune!heath!(Figure!5).!!

!Figure(5(Coastal(Monitoring(Project(habitat(mapping(of(sites(

8!

3. Methodology(!3.1. Field(sampling(!Before! fieldwork! was! undertaken! sites! were! investigated! in! a! Geographic! Information! System! (GIS)! and!recent! aerial! photographs! studied! to! provide! a! general! outlook! on! site! characteristics.! ! Subsequently,!fieldwork!was!undertaken!throughout!five!weeks!from!May!–!June!2010.!!A!random!stratified!approach!of!sampling!was!used!to!locate!sample!points!at!each!site:!98!quadrats!and!27!sediment!samples!at!Maghera;!121!quadrats!and!23!sediment!samples!at!Magheramore!and!45!quadrats,!11!sediment!samples!at!Keadew!(Figure!6).!!

!Figure(6(Sample(point(locations(

!A! 1m2! quadrat! was! used! as! the! vegetation! was! predominantly! composed! of! dune! grassland/heathland!species.! ! The! species! present! were! recorded! and! their! percentage! cover! estimated.! ! Identification! and!nomenclature!of!vascular!plants!was!dictated!by!Rose!(2005)!and!Fitter!et(al.!(1984).!!Those!that!could!not!be! identified! in! the! field! were! both! photographed! and! a! sample! obtained! to! be! identified! later.! ! Some!photographs!and!samples!were!identified!at!the!Natural!History!Museum,!London!by!an!in_house!botanist.!!Cover!of!bryophytes!and! lichens!was! recorded!but!not! identified! to! species! level.! !A! total!of!100! species!were!identified!and!species!richness!varied!between!4!and!21!at!Maghera,!5!and!26!at!Magheramore!and!4!and!19!at!Keadew.!!Furthermore,!percentage!bare!ground!or!areas!void!of!plants!were!recorded.!!Soil!samples!were!obtained!from!a!number!of!quadrats!to!ensure!a!random!distribution!across!the!site!and!a!subset!of! the!original! sample.! !Sediment!was!sampled! to!a!depth!of!10cm!and!samples!were!placed! in!sealed! plastic! bags! and! then! remained! refrigerated! until! analysed! to! prevent! decay.! ! A! reading! of! shear!strength!was! taken!using! a! Pilcon! shear! vane! at! every! location!where! a! sediment! sample!was! obtained.!!Throughout!the!period!of!fieldwork!there!was!no!significant!change!within!weather!to!affect!the!sediment!samples! taken.! ! However,! the! results! obtained! from! vegetation! surveys! and! soils! analysis! need! to! be!situated! in! the! context! of! the! physical! site! coverage.! ! The! coverage! of! the! Maghera! site! was! more!comprehensive! and! takes! into! consideration! a! wider! representation! of! the! coastal! dune! system! with! a!broader! variety! of! sand! dune! communities.! ! In! contrast,! sampling! at!Magheramore! was! focussed! upon!areas!that!have!presently!been!indicated!and!regarded!as!locations!of!dune!heath.!!In!the!time!given,!this!allowed!different! scales!of!comparison! to!be!established! i.e.! inter_site!variation,!within!site!variation!and!variation!between!communities!classified.!

9!

!3.2. Analytical(procedures(!Soil! is! an! essential! part! of! ecosystems! and! plant! communities! can! be! strongly! influenced! by! some! soil!factors!(Álvarez_Rogel!et(al.!2007).!!Therefore,!this!analysis!can!provide!information!on!the!environmental!controls!affecting!the!existing!habitat.! !Soil!samples!were!analysed!for!moisture!content,!organic!content,!carbonate! content,! pH,! conductivity,! nitrate! and! phosphate.! ! Table! 1! illustrates! the! importance! of!measured!environmental!parameters!in!the!context!of!dune!heath!environments.!(

Table(1(Environmental(variables,(units(of(measurement(and(their(significance(to(dune(heath(environments.(!Variable( Units(of(Measurement( Significance(to(dune/heath(environments(Soil(moisture(content( grams!(%!of!sample)! Environmental! gradients! and! species! composition! can! be!

profoundly! affected! by! soil! moisture! (Álvarez_Rogel! et( al.(2007).!!

Organic(content( grams!(%!of!sample)! In!early!stages!of!succession,!organic!content!of!soil!increases!as! a! result! of! litter! production! and! dead! roots,! that! may!simultaneously! result! in! increased!nitrogen! levels! (Berendse!et(al.(1998)!

Carbonate(content( grams!(%!of!sample)! Carbonate! content! can! provide! an! indication! of! the!provenance!of!the!sediment.!!Carbonate!content!also!affects!the!pH!of!the!soil.!

pH( ! Increased! pH! values! strengthen! nitrification! and! exhibits!phosphorus!limitation!(Lammerts!et(al.(1999).!

Conductivity( microsiemens!(µS)! Salinity!is!a!factor!of!limitation!for!species!in!coastal!habitats.!Due! to! proximity! to! the! coast,! salt! spray! and/or! high!evaporation!rates!will!affect!soil!salinity!levels.!

Nitrate( milligrams!per!litre!(mg/l)! Due! to! reduced!amounts!of! organic!matter,! nitrate! is! often!limited! in! dune! soils! (Lammerts! et( al.( 1999).! ! Nitrate! is! an!important! environmental! determinant! in! the! dynamics! of!species!composition!(Berendse!et(al.!1998).!

Phosphate( milligrams!per!litre!(mg/l)! Phosphate! is! also! deficient! in! dune! soils! and! nutrient!concentrations! can! be! further! depleted! by! leaching!consequently!limiting!plant!growth!(Willis!and!Yemm,!1961).!

Shear(strength( kilopascal!(kPa)! Shear! strength! is! a!measure! of! the! soil! tension! that! can! be!increased!by!roots!binding!the!substrate!and!determines!the!stability!of!the!dune.!!Shear!strength!is!also!influenced!by!soil!moisture!content.!

!Initially,!2!grams!of!each!sample!was!weighed!out!into!a!crucible!and!placed!in!the!oven!at!105°C!overnight,!the!samples!were!then!removed!and!the!dry!weight!recorded.! !Moisture!content!of! the!soil! is!calculated!from!the!weight!loss!on!drying.!!The!dried!samples!were!then!placed!into!the!furnace!at!550°C!for!2!hours!and!once!cooled,! the!remaining!ash!weight!was!recorded.! !The!amount!of!organic!matter!was!calculated!from!loss!on!ignition.!!Subsequently,!samples!were!returned!to!the!furnace!at!925°C!for!a!further!4!hours.!!During!this!process,!carbon!dioxide!is!lost!as!carbonates!are!converted!to!oxides.!!Once!removed,!samples!were!reweighed.!!Carbonate!content!of!samples!is!the!difference!between!the!ash!weight!and!the!weight!lost!at!925°C,!the!value!of!which!is!multiplied!by!1.36!to!compensate!the!difference!in!molecular!weights!of!CO2!and!CO3.!!

10!

To!establish!the!conductivity!of!samples!100ml!of!deionised!water!was!added!to!10!grams!of! the!sample!and!left!to!steep!for!30!minutes.!!Samples!were!then!filtered!and!readings!of!conductivity!were!measured!electrometrically!using!a!conductivity!meter.!!The!filtered!water!samples!were!also!used!to!measure!nitrate!(Cadmium!reduction!method)!and!phosphate!content!(Ascorbic!acid!method)!using!a!photospectrometer.!!Acceptable! pH! readings! proved! problematic.! ! Initially,! the! same!water! sample! prepared! for! conductivity!was!also!measured!electrometrically!with!a!pH!meter.! !However,! the!results!obtained!were!unrealistic!of!the! reality.! ! The! values! returned! ranged! between! pH! 6.04! and! 7.06! which! were! significantly! neutral!considering! the! habitat! present.! ! In! the! circumstances,! further! investigation! was! undertaken.! ! pH! is! a!problematic!variable!to!measure!in!itself!due!to!the!natural!variance!of!hydrogen!ions!within!solutions.!!The!variation! in!proportions!of!soil:water!can!affect! the!soil!buffering!capacity,!especially!of!young!dune!soils!where! the!buffer! capacity! is! small,!whereas!older! soils! are!much!more! strongly!buffered! (Wilson,! 1960).!!Therefore,!a!number!of!different!ratios!of!soil:water!were!tested.!!Finally,!a!ratio!of!1:2.5!(soil:water)!was!used! as! the! concentration! and! 0.01! molar! of! dihydrate! calcium! chloride! (CaCl2)! was! mixed! with! the!deionised!water!to!stabilise!the!solution!(Nierop!et(al.!2003).!!This!method!provided!more!realistic!results!comparable! to! that! found! in! other! studies! of! similar! habitat.! ! Values! of! between! pH! 3.5! and! 6.9! were!discovered!from!soils!from!a!Dutch!coastal!dune!system!including!dune!heath!(Nierop!et!al.!2003).!!Wilson!(1960)!also!discovered!low!pH!values!at!South!Haven,!Dorset,!ranging!between!3.9!and!4.5!for!dune!heath!habitat.!!3.3. Data(Analysis(!Initially,! species!and!environmental!datasets!were!explored!separately.! !The!species! richness!of!each!site!was!calculated!by!adding!together!the!species!present!within!each!sample.! !Simpsons!diversity! index!was!calculated!to!evaluate!species!richness!and!evenness.!!A!histogram!plot!was!used!to!illustrate!contribution!of!particular!species!to!the!overall!site!composition.!!Initial!exploratory!data!analysis!was!undertaken!using!regression! to! analyse! the! relationship!between!environmental! parameters.! ! It!was!discovered! that! some!variables!could!be!determined!to!have!a!significantly!dependent!relationship!with!another!environmental!variable!(Townend,!2002).!!Ph!was!found!to!be!highly!dependent!upon!%!carbonate!(r2!=!0.499;!P!=!<0.01).!!Furthermore,! shear! strength! (r2!=!0.153;!P!=!<0.01)!and!organics! (r2!=!0.731;!P!=<0.01)!were! significantly!dependent!on!moisture.!!Also!shear!strength!showed!a!significant!relationship!with!organics!(r2!=!0.217;!P!=!<0.01).!!Species! data! was! then! analysed! using! WINTWINS! (TWINSPAN)! indicator! species! analysis! to! statistically!produce!user!defined!community!groupings!based!on!indicator!species.!!Indicator!species!analysis!employs!the! concept! of! pseudospecies,!whereby! the! occurrence! of! a! species! at! different! predetermined! levels! is!used! (Kent! and! Coker,! 1992).! ! A! key! concept! of! this! analysis! is! that! it! produces! a! dichotomy! whereby!samples! can!be!divided!on! the!premise! that!one! set!of!differential! species! characterise!one!group!and!a!second!set!characterise!the!other,!therefore!creating!distinctive!groupings!or!communities!(Kent!and!Coker,!1992).!!The!analysis!works!in!two!ways!forming!a!hierarchy!by!the!process!of!dividing!species!and!samples.!!Furthermore,! TABLEFIT! analysis! was! undertaken! to! evaluate! the! goodness! of! fit! of! the! species! data!collected! to! existing! NVC! and! EU! CORINE! habitat! communities.! ! The! highest! average! of! compositional!satisfaction!(G1)!and!the!mean!constancy!species! (G2)!was!used!to!provide!the! ‘best!community! fit’!with!already! produced! classifications! (Hill,! 1996).! ! Where! the! average! was! equal! between! two! classes! the!highest! G1! value!was! used! to! determine! compositional! satisfaction! to! that! community.! ! These! analyses!were! undertaken! to! evaluate! the! current! definition! and! correctness! of! already! classified! and! mapped!communities.!!

11!

The! variation! in! environmental! variables! between! sites! and! communities! was! analysed! using! boxplots.!!These! are! useful! graphical! presentations! using! measures! of! the! median! and! quartiles! to! illustrate! the!dispersion! and! range! from! the! central! value! within! the! data! (Kent! and! Coker,! 1992).! ! User! defined!communities! (C7! –! C14,! Figure! 10)! generated! from! indicator! species! analysis! were! used! to! analyse! the!environmental!subtleties!between!communities.!!Multivariate! statistical! analysis! was! used! to! assess! and! compare! the! importance! of! environmental!parameters!on!species!at!different!sites.!!44!species!were!selected!in!total!to!formulate!ordination!plots!in!conjunction!with!environmental! variables.! ! Species! that!were! low! in! abundance!were! removed! from! the!analysis!to!assess!the!effects!and!variation!of!environmental!parameters!on!the!species!more!abundant!at!all! sites.! ! The! cover! of! lichens! and! bryophytes! were! removed! from! this! analysis.! ! Detrended!Correspondance! Analysis! (DCA)! of! the! species! data! established! that! two! sites! have! an! axis! 1! length! of!greater!than!4!standard!deviation!units!and!therefore!comprise!high!beta!diversity!values,!whereas!Keadew!has!a!length!of!just!over!2!standard!deviations!(Appendix!8.1).!!Despite,!this,!after!production!of!Canonical!Correspondance!Analysis!plots,!which!are!unimodal!forms!of!analysis!suited!to!long!gradient!length,!it!was!decided! that!gradient! lengths!weren’t! substantial!enough! to!create!effective!ordination! (Kent!and!Coker,!1992).! ! Therefore,! Redundancy! Analysis! (RDA)!was! performed! on! individual! site! data! to! understand! the!variation!between!species!and!environmental!variables,!inclusive!of!samples.!!To!improve!the!comparability!of!data!for!analysis!some!environmental!variables!were!log!transformed!for!normality!(log10!(x+1).!!!!3.4. GIS(Analysis(!The!data!at!all!sites!was!examined!in!ESRI!ArcGIS!9.2!using!geo_rectified!aerial!photographs!from!2005!and!shapefile!data! from! the!Coastal!Monitoring!Project!of! Ireland! (2009)!provided!by! the!National!Parks!and!Wildlife!Service!(NPWS).!!Samples!and!vegetation!communities!(established!from!indicator!species!analysis!and!TABLEFIT! analysis)!were!analysed!at! the! spatial! scale!using!a!GIS.! ! Spatial! patterns!of! the!data!were!statistically!tested!using!spatial!autocorrelation!(Morans!I)!to!test!how!significantly!clustered!or!random!the!assigned!characteristic!is!in!nature!based!on!feature!locations!and!values.!!Values!of!Morans!index!closer!to!1.0!indicate!significant!clustering!(ESRI,!2010).!!Furthermore,!this!allowed!the!physical!and!regional!context!of!the!data!to!be!viewed.!

12!

4. (Results(!4.1. Physical(characteristics(!Considerable!variation!exists!within!the!physical!characteristics!of!the!sites!studied.!!Figure!7a!presents!the!site!at!Maghera!which!is!a!mosaic!of!fixed!dune!habitats!affronted!by!embryonic!dunes.!!Visible!distinctions!exist! between! the! communities! present! within! the! site.! ! A! prominent! dune! ridge! exists! towards! the!seaward!edge!of! the! site,! distinctly! characterised!by! areas!of! sand!and!a!dominant! cover!of!A.(arenaria.!!Heathland!vegetation!appears!distinctly!darker! in!colour!and! is! located!towards!the! landward!area!of!the!site,! situated! to! the! back! of! the! dune! system! in! more! sheltered! areas.! ! In! general,! the! presence! of! A.(arenaria!decreases!in!abundance!towards!the!landward!edge!of!the!dune!system.!!The! site! at! Magheramore! has! a! more! varied! topography! making! it! comparatively! different! to! that! of!Maghera.!!The!sand!dune!system!flanks!either!side!of!a!central!headland!and!is!of!relatively!higher!altitude!(4.21!_!52.76m),!than!that!of!Maghera!(1.57m!–!18.15m)!or!Keadew!(1.09!–!13.82m).!!This!system!could!be!classified!as!a!cliff!top!dune!formation.!!Figures!4c!and!d!illustrate!how!close!the!bedrock!is!to!the!surface!as!rock!outcrops!the!thin!layer!of!substrate.!!There!is!a!variety!of!vegetation!exhibited!within!different!areas!of!the! site.! ! Figure! 7b! shows! an! example! of! vegetation! located! on! the! headland.! ! A! myriad! of! heathland!species! are!present! including!C.( vulgaris,!P.( erecta,!E.( angustifolium,!S.repens,!C.( dissectum! and! a!mix! of!Carex! species!mainly!C.( flacca! and!C.( panicea.! ! Overall,! the! vegetation! exists! in! a! low! sward! formation.!!Figure!4c!portrays!a!different! variation!of!dune!heath!habitat! at!Magheramore.! !As!previously! indicated,!there! is! a! greater! expanse! of! bedrock! outcropping! this! area.! ! Furthermore,! there! are! indications! of! the!areas!natural!history!as!this!location!is!distributed!with!glacial!erratics,!boulders!deposited!during!the!last!period!of!glacial!action.!!The!area!in!Figure!7c!is!bounded!by!more!characteristic!fixed!dune!formations!and!this! patch! of! dune! heathland! is! delimited! by! the! occurrence! of! A.( arenaria.! ! This! area! comprises! a!predominantly! heathland! community! with! an! abundance! of! Carex! species,! C.( vulgaris! and! E.( tetralix.!!Furthermore,!distinctive!taller!tuft!formations!of!S.(nigricans!feature!within!this!area!of!habitat.!!Figure!7d!portrays!a!different!vegetation!composition! in!contrast! to!other!areas!at!Magheramore.! ! Similarity!exists!between!all! locations! at!Magheramore!as!bedrock! can!be!observed!near!or!outcropping! the!wider!dune!formation.! !However,! there! are!distinctive!differences! in!dominant! vegetation! species.! ! J.( communis( ssp.(nana! carpets! an! expansive! area! of! the! inland! headland! formation! at! Mullyvea.! ! Other! species! that!contribute! to! the! habitat! include! S.repens,! C.( vulgaris,! A.( diocia,! E.( cinerea! and! E.( tetralix! and! other!heathland! species.! ! As! can! be! seen! from! Figures! 7b,! c! and! d! the! distribution! of! A.( arenaria! occurs! in!restricted,!localised!occurrences!throughout!the!areas!surveyed.!

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The#Keadew#site#is#a#more#characteristic#sand#dune#system,#comprising#of#an#abundant#sward#of#A.#arenaria#and#grasses#such#as#F.#rubra#and#L.#campestris# (Figure#8).# #This#site# is# less#expansive# in#area#and#could#be#postulated#to#be#younger#in#nature.##This#site#is#located#on#a#headland#and#there#is#a#significant#drop#onto#a#rocky# shoreline.# # There# are# some# outcrops# of# the# bedrock# throughout# the# site.# Localised# occurrences# of#heathland# communities# tend# to# be# distributed# in# areas# where# bedrock# outcrops# the# dune# formation.##Species#that#occur#in#this#manner#at#Keadew#include#C.#vulgaris#and#E.#nigrum.##

#Figure'8'Example'of'characteristic'dune'vegetation'found'at'Keadew'

#4.2. Dune'ecology'#4.2.1. Vegetation#assemblages#–#Species#and#communities##A#total#of#100#vascular#species#were#identified#(abbreviations#listed#Appendix#8.3);#41#species#were#present#on#all#sites;#whereas#7#species#made#a#localised#occurrence#at#Maghera;#23#species#at#Magheramore#and#5#species#at#Keadew#(Appendix#8.2).##Figure#9#illustrates#the#contribution#of#abundant#species#to#overall#site#vegetation#composition.# #A.#arenaria,#C.#vulgaris,#F.rubra#and#S.# repens#make#a#significant#contribution#to#the# overall# species# composition# at# Maghera,# C.# vulgaris# and# F.# rubra# exhibiting# the# greatest# overall#coverage.##At#Magheramore#it#is#clear#that#C.#vulgaris#is#the#dominant#species,#with#a#significant#coverage#of#F.#rubra,#S.#pratensis#and#S.#repens.# #At#Keadew,#grassland#species,#A.#arenaria#and#F.#rubra#dominate#site#vegetation.# # Species# such# as# L.# corniculatus,# A.# vulneraria,# C.# arenaria# and# L.# campestris# have# a# greater#contribution# to# vegetation# communities# at# Keadew# than# at# the# other# sites.# # Comparison# across# sites#indicates# that# E.# nigrum# has# the# greatest# overall# contribution# to# vegetation# composition# at# Keadew,# R.#spinossissma# at# Maghera# and# J.# communis# ssp.# nana# at# Magheramore.# # Furthermore,# E.# tetralix# and# E.#cinerea# comprise# small# amounts# to# vegetation# composition# at# Maghera# and# Magheramore# but# are# not#present# at# Keadew.# # Overall,# evaluation# of# species# composition# on# a# general# scale,# heathland# species#appear#to#constitute#a#greater#contribution#to#the#overall#vegetation#communities#present#at#Maghera#and#Magheramore.# # In#contrast,#species#characteristic#of#dune#grassland#predominate#vegetation#composition#at#Keadew.##

15#

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Maghera Magheramore Keadew

Thymus;polytrichus Succisa;pratensis Salix;repensRosa;spinosissima Potentilla;erecta Luzula;campestrisLotus;corniculatus Juniperus;communis;ssp.;nana Hypochaeris;radicataFestuca;rubra Erica;tetralix Erica;cinereaEmpetrum;nigrum Carex;arenaria Calluna;vulgarisAnthyllis;vulneraria Ammophila;arenaria

#Figure'9'Contribution'of'species'to'site'composition.'

#Figure# 10# shows# the# divisions# and# communities# defined# by# indicator# species# analysis# (Wintwins,#TWINSPAN).##The#first#division#created#is#a#clear#distinction#between#ericaceous#communities#(C2)#and#those#more#characteristic#of#dune#grassland#(C1).# #The#dune#grassland#is#further#classified# into#a#scrubbier#dune#community# (C3)#consisting#of#species#such#as#P.#aquilinum,#R.#spinossissma#and#V.#chamaedrys;#and#truer#dune#grassland#(C4)#including#species#such#as#A.#vulneraria,#P.#officinarum,#L.#corniculatus#and#T.#polytrichus.##A# further#division#of# the# scrubby#dune#community#defines# the#addition#of#a#more#ericaceous# community#(C8)#with#indicator#species#including#C.#vulgaris,#E.#angustifolium,#P#erecta#and#H.#pulchrum.##In#contrast#to#the#more#ericaceous#grassland#community#is#a#community#(C7)#defined#by#presence#of#P.#aquilinum#and#G.#verum,#that#when#divided#further#results#in#a#subVcommunity#solely#defined#by#incidence#of#S.#repens#(C15).##SubVcommunities#created#by#division#of#the#truer#dune#grassland#result#in#a#community#with#marker#species#of#S.# repens,#L.# corniculatus,# J.# communis# ssp.#nana# and#P.#maritima# (C10)#and#an#alternative# community#with#indicator#species#L.#campestris#and#T.#repens#(C9).##Species#such#as#E.#nigrum#only#appear#as#indicator#species#within#the#subtly#defined#communities# (C20).# # In#contrast,# the#ericaceous#branch# is#divided# into#a#community# characterised# by# species# such# as#E.# tetralix,#C.# flacca,#C.# dissectum,#C.# nigra# and#P.#maritima#(C6);# and# a# community# classified# on# the# presence# of# F.# rubra# and# E.# angustifolium# (C5).# # The# more#ericaceous#community#is#subVclassified#into#a#community#where#E.#tetralix#is#the#sole#indicator#species#(C14)#and#an#alternative#community#characterised#by#the#presence#of#S.#nigricans#and#P.#officinarum#(C13).##Final#division#communities# include#a#community#characterised#by#E.#tetralix,#S.#repens#and#C.#nigra# (C27)#and#a#community#defined#by#higher#presence#of#grasses#including#F.#rubra#and#H.#lanatus#(C28).##

16#

Total&D

ata&N&=&264

C1&Dun

e&grassland

N=1

68A.#arena

ria;#G

.#verum

;#L.#cam

pestris;#T.#p

olytrichu

s

C2&Ericaceo

usN=9

6P.#erecta;#E.#tetralix;##

C.#vulga

ris

C3&Scrub

by&dun

eN=6

1P.#aqu

ilinu

m;#

R.spinossissma;#

V.#cha

maedrys;#

E.#ang

ustifolium

C4&Dun

e&grassland

N=1

07T.#polytrichu

s;#

A.#vulneraria

;#P.#

officinarum

;#Poly.#vulga

ris;#

L.#corniculatus;#C.#flacca

C5FestucaCE.&

angustifo

lium

N=2

8F.#ru

bra;#

E.#ang

ustifolium

C6&EricaCCarex

N=6

8E.#tetralix;#C.#flacca;#

C.#dissectum

;#C.#nigra;#

P.#maritima

C7&GaliumC

Pteridium

N=3

3G.#verum

;#P.#aqu

ilinu

m

C8&CallunaC

Ericaceo

usN=2

8C.#vulga

ris;#

E.#ang

ustifolium;#

P.#erecta;#

H.#pulchrum

C9&LuzulaC

Trifo

lium

N=7

3L.#cam

pestris;#

T.#repens

C10&SalixC

LotusCJunipe

rN=3

4S.repens;#

L.#corniculatus;#

J.#commun

is;#

P.#maritima

C11&Trifo

liumC

Calluna

N&=&25

T.#repens;#

C.#vulga

ris

C12&AgrostisC

Junipe

rusC

Ranu

nculus

N&=&3

A.#cap

illaris;#

J.#commun

is;#

R.#bulbo

sus

C13&Scho

enusC

Pilosella

N&=&12

S.#nigrican

s;#

P.#officinarum

C14&Erica&N&

=&56

E.#tetralix

C15&Salix&N&=&

15S.#repens

C16&Ve

ronicaC

Trifo

liumC

Ranu

nculus

N&=&

18V.#cha

maedrys;#

T.#repens;#

R.#bulbo

sus

C17&

Erioph

orum

N&

=&10 E.#

angu

stifo

lium

C18&Carex–

Trifo

lium

N&

=&18

C.#arena

ria;#

T.#repens

C28&FestucaC

HolcusCPlantago

N&=&12

F.#ru

bra;#

H.#lan

atus;#

P.#lanceolata

C27&Salix&–

EricaCCarexN&

=&44

S.#repens;#

E.#tetralix;#

C.#nigra

C26&N&=&7

CallunaCJun

iperusC

Empe

trum

CSalix

A.#diocia;#J.#

commun

is;#E.#

nigrum

;#C.#vulga

ris;#

S.#repens

C25&N&=&5&

P.#anserina

C24&N&=&21

EricaCSalixC

Rosa

E.#tetralix;#

H.pulchrum;#S.#

repens;#R.#

spinossissma

C23&N&=&4

P.#lanceolata

C22&N&=&22

P.#maritima;#

Poly.#vulga

ris;#

A.#vulneraria

;#T.#polytrichu

s

C20&N&=&28

P.#lanceolata;#

E.#nigrum;

C19&N&=&45

G.#verum

;#H.#pulchrum;#

T.#polytrichu

s;#

Prun

.#vulga

ris;#

S.#pratensis

C21&N&=&12

A.#arena

ria

#Figu

re'10'Co

mmun

ities'defined

'by'indicator'spe

cies'ana

lysis'

17#

Communities#become#subtler#in#definition#with#further#sub5division.##The#number#of#samples#from#each#site#which#fall#into#each#community#are#shown#in#Figure#11#for#the#dune#grassland#branch#and#Figure#12#for#the#ericaceous#branch.##Samples#from#Maghera#are#principally#classified#under#the#dune#grassland#(C1)#branch#with#a#high#number#of#samples#classified#into#the#scrubby#dune#community#(C3).##Additionally#samples#from#Maghera# are# classified# into# some# of# the# increasingly# ericaceous# (C2+)# communities,# although# there#occurrence#is#less#frequent.##However,#a#predominance#of#Maghera#samples#is#classified#as#Erica&Salix&Rosa-(C24)- community.# In# contrast,# samples# from# Magheramore# are# classified# within# a# wide# number# of#communities.##However,#some#communities#defined#within#the#ericaceous#branch#(C2+)#are#predominantly#samples#from#Magheramore.##A#high#number#of#samples#from#Magheramore#have#been#classified#as#truer#dune# grassland# (C4)# and# the# Erica&Carex&Cirsium- (C6)- community.# # There# are# however,# particular#understated# communities# that# only# occur# at# Magheramore# including;# Schoenus&Pilosella- (C13);- Festuca&Holcus-(C28);-Calluna&Juniperus&Empetrum&Salix-(C26)#communities.##Also,#in#comparison#to#the#other#sites#there# are# a# higher# proportion# of# samples# classified# within# the# Salix&Lotus&Juniper- (C10)- community.##Samples#of#Keadew#are#predominantly#classified#within#communities#located#on#the#dune#grassland#branch#(C1+).##A#high#number#of#samples#from#this#site#are#classified#within#the#Luzula&Trifolium-(C9)-and#Plantago&Empetrum-(C20)#communities.##

6956

43

M MM K

43

12 6

M MM K

26

4437

M MM K

18

11

4

M MM K

25

1 2

M MM K

25 21 27

M MM K

1

23

10

M MM K

8

43

M MM K

10

7

1

M MM K

10

0 0

M MM K

15

1 2

M MM K

2317

5

M MM K

2 4

22

M MM K

1

7

4

M MM K

0

16

6

M MM K

C1

C3 C4

C8 C9 C10C7

C15 C16

C17 C18

C19 C20

C21 C22

#Figure'11'Number'of'samples'from'each'site'associated'with'each'dune'grassland'branch'defined'community'–'Community'

numbers'correspond'with'communities'defined'in'Figure'10''

18#

29

65

2

M MM K

20

62

M MM K

9

59

M MM K

20

41

M MM K

0

2

1

M MM K

0

12

0

M MM K

9

47

0

M MM K

0

4

0

M MM K

20

0 1

M MM K

0

5

0

M MM K

0

7

0

M MM K

9

35

0

M MM K

0

12

0

M MM K

C2

C5 C6

C11 C12 C13 C14

C23 C24

C25 C26

C27 C28

#Figure'12'Number'of'samples'from'each'site'associated'with'each'ericaceous'branch'defined'community'–'Community'numbers'

correspond'with'communities'defined'in'Figure'10'#Classification#of#communities#was# investigated# further#using#TABLEFIT#which#enabled#a#goodness#of# fit# to#evaluate#how#well# species# composition#and# cover# fit#with# the# current# classification#of# the#NVC# (Rodwell,#2000)# and# the# EU# CORINE# units.# # Table# 2# shows# the# variation# of# comparative# classification# communities#found# present# at# each# site.# # There# are# differences# in# the# communities# present# varying# from# dry# dune#communities#to#wetter#dune#communities#through#to#wet#heath#and#mire#vegetation.##The#communities#at#each#site#vary#in#accordance#to#site#conditions.##

19#

Table'2'Results'of'Tablefit'analysis'CORINE#Code# CORINE#Name# NVC#Code# NVC#Name# Site#Present#C34.331# Brit#Xerobr#calc#grass# CG1f# Festuca-ovina-–-Carlina-vulgaris-Festuca-rubra&Sci-ver- K#C34.3216# Short#Mesobr#calc#grass# CG7b# Festuca-ovina-–-Hier-pil-–-Thymus-Cladonia-spp.- MM#C31.492# Low5Alt#Dryas#heath# CG13# Dryas-oct-–-Carex-flacca- MM#C31.2252# Coastal#scil#vern#heath# H7# Calluna-&-Scil-vern-heath- M,#MM,#K#C31.2252# Coastal#scil#vern#heath# H7b# Calluna-–-Scil-vern-heath-Viola-riviniana- MM#C31.2252# Coastal#scil#vern#heath# H7c# Calluna-–-Scil-vern-heath-Erica-tetralix- M,#MM#C31.2252# Coastal#scil#vern#heath# H7d# Calluna&Scil-vern-heath-Empetrum-nigrum- MM#C31.2252# Coastal#scil#vern#heath# H7e# Calluna-–-Scil-vern-heath-Calluna-vulgaris- M,#MM#C31.235# Ulex5galli#heath# H8# Calluna-–-Ulex-gall-heath- M#C31.235# Ulex5galli#heath# H8c# Calluna-–-Ulex-gall-heath-Sanguis-minor- M#C31.2256# Submontane#heather#moor# H10a# Calluna-–-Erica-cinerea-heath-typical- M#C31.2256# Submontane#heather#moor# H10c# Calluna- –- Erica- cinerea- heath- Festuca- ovina- –-

Anthoxanthum-odoratum-M#

C16.24# Dune#heath#with#Calluna# H11# Calluna-&-Carex-arenaria-heath- M#C16.24# Dune#heath#with#Calluna# H11c# Calluna-&-Carex-arenaria-heath-species&poor- M#C51.12# Bog#hollows# M3# Eriophorum-angustifolium-bog-pool- K#C31.11# Northern#wet#heath# M16# Erica-tetralix&Sphagnum-compactum- MM#C31.11# Northern#wet#heath# M16b# Erica-tetralix-&-Sphagnum-compactum-Succisa-pratensis-–-

Carex-panicea--M,#MM#

C52.22# Cottongrass#bog# M20# Eriophorum-vaginatum-blanket/raised- M#C37.312# Acid#Molinia#grassland# M25a# Molinia-–-Potentilla-erecta-mire-Erica-tetralix- M,#MM#C18.21# Atlantic#sea#cliff# MC8b# Festuca-rubra&-Armeria-maritime-Crithm-martimum- K#C18.2# Vegetated#sea#cliffs# MC9# Festuca-rubra-–-Holcus-lanatus- M,#MM,#K#C18.2# Vegetated#sea#cliffs# MC9a# Festuca-rubra-–-Holcus-lanatus-–-Plantago-maritime- MM,#K#C18.2# Vegetated#sea#cliffs# MC9c# Festuca-rubra-–-Holcus-lanatus-Achillea-millefolium- MM#C18.2# Vegetated#sea#cliffs# MC12# Festuca-rubra-–-Hyacinthoides-non&scripta- MM#C81# Fert#and#reseeded#grass# MG7f# Lolium-perenne- recreational-grass-Lolium-perenne-–-Poa-

pratensis-MM#

C37.242# Grassy#flood#swards# MG11# Festuca-rubra-–-Agrostis-stolinifera-–-Potentilla-anserina- MM#C16.22# Fixed# dune# and# herbaceous#

vegetation#OV27e# Epil/Cham-angustifolium-tall-herb-Ammophila-arenaria- M#

C16.2121# Atlantic#Ammophila#dune# SD6# Ammophila-arenaria-mobile#dune#community# M#C16.2121# Atlantic#Ammophila#dune# SD6e# Ammophila-arenaria-subc.#Festuca-rubra- M,#MM,#K#C16.2121# Atlantic#Ammophila#dune# SD6f# Ammophila#arenaria#–#Poa#pratensis# M,#K#C16.2121# Atlantic#Ammophila#dune# SD7# Ammophila- arenaria&Festuca- rubra- semi5fixed# dune#

community#M,#MM,#K#

C16.2121# Atlantic#Ammophila#dune# SD7d# Ammophila-arenaria-subc.#Elymus-pycnanthus- M#C16.2211# Calcareous#northern#fixed#dune# SD8# Festuca-rubra&Galium-verum-fixed#dune#grassland# MM,#K#C16.2211# Calcareous#northern#fixed#dune# SD8a# Subc.#Typical#(Festuca&Galium)- M,#MM,#K#C16.2211# Calcareous#northern#fixed#dune# SD8b# Festuca-rubra&Galium-verum-subc.#Luzula-campestris- M,#MM,#K#C16.2211# Calcareous#northern#fixed#dune# SD9# Ammophila- arenaria&Arrhenatherum- elatius- dune#

grassland#M#

C16.226# Thermoph#dune#fringe# SD9b# Ammophila# arenaria# –# Arrhenatherum# elatius# Ger#sangineum#

M#

C16.221# Northern#fixed#dune# SD10a# Carex#arenaria#–#Festuca#rubra# M,#K#C16.221# Northern#fixed#dune# SD12# Carex-arenaria&Agrostis-capillaris-dune#grassland-- K#C16.221# Northern#fixed#dune# SD12a# Carex- arenaria&Agrostis- capillaris- subc.# Anthoxanthum-

odoratum-K#

C16.33# Calcareous#fen#spp.#in#slack# SD15# Salix- repens&Calliergon- cuspidatum- dune5slack#community#

MM#

C16.26# Creeping#willow#dune# SD16# Salix-repens&Holcus-lanatus-dune5slack#community# M,#K#C16.26# Creeping#willow#dune# SD16a# Salix#repens#–#Holcus#lanatus#Ononis#repens# M,#MM,#K#C16.26# Creeping#willow#dune# SD16b# Salix-repens&Holcus-lanatus-subc.#Rubus-caesius- M,#MM,#K#C16.34# Moist#slack#grass/rush# SD17b# Potentilla#anserina#–#Carex#nigra#Carex#flacca# M,#MM#C15.331# Juncus#gerardii#upper#salt#marsh# SM16d# Juncus#gerardii#Festuca#rubra# MM#C35.12# Agrostis#–#Festuca#Grassland# U4# Festuca#ovina#–#Agrostis#capillaris#–#Galium#saxatile# MM#C35.12# Agrostis#–#Festuca#Grassland# U4b# Festuca# ovina# –# Agrostis# capillaris# –# Galium# saxatile#

Holcus#lanatus#–#Trifolium#repens#MM#

#

20#

#4.2.2. Environmental#factors##The# variation# in# environmental# parameters# between# sites# is# shown# in# Figure# 13.# # The# overall# moisture#content#of#dune#soils# is#wide,#ranging#from#0.87%#to#64.72%.##However,#generally#the#moisture#content#is#fairly#dry#with#half#of#the#data#having#values#between#5.63%#and#13.50%.##Soils#at#Magheramore#are#higher#in# moisture# content,# ranging# between# 1.86%# and# 64.72%,# with# an# average# of# 16.30%.# # The# average#moisture#content#of#soils#at#Maghera#is#8.69%#and#11.39%#at#Keadew.##Similarly,#the#overall#organic#content#of#soils#is#low#with#the#majority#of#values#occurring#between#1.41%#and#2.91%.##However,#there#is#significant#range#with#lowest#value#of#0.24%#occurring#at#Maghera#and#the#highest#value#of#23.91%#at#Magheramore.##The#overall# carbonate# content#of# soil# samples# taken# are# significantly# low# in# value# and# variability#with# an#average#of#0.599%.##However,#there#is#significant#variability#within#carbonate#values#of#the#soils#at#Keadew,#with# an# average# of# 2.32%# which# is# notably# higher# than# that# of# Maghera# (0.257%)# and# Magheramore#(0.178%).# #The# largest# range# in#conductivity#occurs#at#Magheramore#with#values# ranging#between#57.1µS#and# 155.6µS.# # Keadew# has# considerably# higher# values# overall# with# the# lowest# value# being# 79.20µS.##Conductivity# at# Maghera# has# the# lowest# range# of# values,# ranging# between# 42.4µS# and# 89.8µS# with# an#average#of#60.2µS,#which#is#appreciably#lower#to#that#of#Magheramore#(88.5µS)#and#Keadew#(99.45µS).##Ph#has# a#moderately#wide# range#with# values# as# low# as# 4.07# at#Magheramore# and# values# as# high# as# 7.25# at#Keadew.# #The#majority#of#pH#values#of#Keadew#are#overall#higher#than#those#of#the#other#sites.# #Maghera#has#more#uniform#pH#values#with#half#of#the#data#ranging#between#5.01#and#5.57.##Overall,#Keadew#has#the#highest# average# of# 6.59# in# comparison# to# Maghera# (5.34)# and#Magheramore# (5.32).# # Concentrations# of#nitrates#and#phosphates#are#generally#very# low#and#principally#uniform,#with#highest#values#of#phosphate#occurring#at#Keadew#(0.5mg/l)#and#highest#values#of#nitrate#at#Magheramore#(0.4mg/l).##Overall,#there#is#a#considerable#range#in#values#of#shear#strength#throughout#the#dune#sites#with#values#ranging#between#6kPa#at#Keadew#and#70kPa#at#Magheramore.##The#greatest#variation#in#shear#strength#occurs#at#Magheramore,#which# is# characterised# by# the# largest# range# and# deviation.# # In# contrast,# lowest# values# and# range# are#associated# with# Keadew.# # Generally# there# is# considerable# variability# within# species# richness# at# all# sites.##Species#richness#was#slightly#lower#at#Keadew#in#comparison#with#the#other#sites;#the#lowest#value#being#4.##Highest# values# of# species# richness# were# present# at# Magheramore;# the# highest# value# being# 23# species.##However,#both#Maghera#and#Magheramore#had#equal#averages#of#14#species#present#per#quadrat.###

21#

#

#

#

##

Figure'13'Variation'in'environmental'parameters'between'sites'studied'#Figures#14,#15#and#16#illustrate#the#relationship#between#particular#species#and#environmental#variables#at#individual# sites# through# use# of# ordination.# # The# RDA# for# Keadew# (Figure# 14)# illustrates# some# patterns# of#association#between#species#and#environmental#variables.##A#clustering#of#species#including#P.-officinarum,#L.-campestris,#L.-corniculatus,#A.-vulneraria,#C.-vulgaris,#E.-angustifolium,#T.-polytrichus,#Poly.-vulgaris#and#P.-maritima#exists.##This#cluster#of#species#exhibits#preferences#of#being#more#ericaceous#in#nature,#associated#with#lower#proportions#of#carbonates,#average#shear#strength,#nitrates#and#phosphates#and#preference#for#a# lower#pH#and#slightly# lower#altitude.# #C.-arenaria#displays#preference#for# lower#shear#strength.# #Species#such#as#H.-lanatus,#V.riviniana#and#R.-bulbosus#prefer#conditions#with#a#higher#pH.####The#RDA#for#Maghera#also# illustrates#clustering#of#species.# #A#cluster#of#species#exists#at#the#top#of#axis#2#(Figure# 15).# # The# nature# of# clustering# indicates# that# these# species# have# similar# environmental#characteristics;# species# such# as#G.- verum;# T.- polytrichus;# S.- pratensis;# L.- campestris;#C.- fontanum# exhibit#similar# habitat# conditions# of# low# carbonate# values,# higher# moisture# content# and# increased# levels# of#

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nitrogen.# #Particular#species#have#strong#association#with#individual#environmental#variables.# #E.-cinerea# is#particularly# associated# with# moisture,# whereas# E.- angustifolium# and# P.- erecta# indicate# preference# for#conditions# associated# with# higher# organics.# # C.- arenaria# exhibits# a# similar# environmental# preference# for#decreased# values# of# shear# strength# at# both#Maghera# and# Keadew.# # C.- vulgaris# indicates# preference# for#lower#values#of#Simpsons#reciprocal;#this# implies#that#the#species#tends#to#be#more#prominent#in#areas#of#low# species# richness.# # R.- spinossissma# specifies# increased# values# of# phosphate;# although# values# of#phosphate# are# low# throughout# the# site.# # S.- repens- indicates# preference# for# conditions#with# a# higher# pH,#however#a#higher#pH#value#at#Maghera#is#quite#acidic#in#the#broader#environmental#context.####The#RDA#for#Magheramore#(Figure#16)#illustrates#a#greater#clustering#of#species#than#Maghera.##To#illustrate#the# variation#within# habitat# across#Magheramore,# samples# from#different# subsites#were# highlighted.# # An#overlap#of#both#species#present#and#environmental#conditions#does#exist,#although#it#is#evident#that#there#are# three#variations#of#dune#heath#community#present#at#Magheramore.# # Species# such#as#A.-arenaria,#C.-arenaria,#A.- vulneraria,#L.- campestris,#T.- repens,#G.- verum,#L.- catharticum# and#C.- fontanum# are# clustered#together.# # These# species# exhibit# equal# preference#of# average#pH#and#phosphate.# #H.-pulchrum# exhibits# a#preference# for# higher# organics,# whereas# species# such# as# E.- nigrum,# C.- dissectum# and# S.- repens# exhibit#preferences# for# higher# proportions# of# carbonate#with# lower#moisture# and# organic# content.# #P.-maritima-appears# to#be#strongly# influenced#by#altitude.# #S.-nigricans# is# situated# fairly#central# in# the#ordination#plot#indicating# that# the# species# shows#preference# for# fairly# average#environmental# conditions# at# this# site,# the#relative#importance#of#individual#environmental#parameters#is#ambiguous.##

#Figure'14'RDA'ordination'plot'for'Keadew'site:'Arrows'represent'environmental'variables;'Species'labelled'and'points'represent'

distribution'of'samples'in'relation'to'species'and'environmental'variables.'#

23#

#Figure'15'RDA'ordination'plot'for'Maghera'site:'Arrows'represent'environmental'variables;'Species'labelled'and'points'represent'

distribution'of'samples'in'relation'to'species'and'environmental'variables.'#

'Figure'16'RDA'ordination'plot'for'Magheramore'site:'Arrows'represent'environmental'variables;'Species'labelled'and'points'represent'distribution'of'samples'in'relation'to'species'and'environmental'variables.'Red'='Carrickahalagh'headland;'Green'='

Mullyvea'outcrop;'Blue;'Dune'heath'patch,'central'complex;'Yellow'='Rest'of'samples'

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#Furthermore,# the# relationship#between# communities#defined#and#environmental# variables#was#evaluated#(Figure#17).# #The# third#division#communities#were#selected# (C7#–#C14# from#Figure#10)#as# this#enabled# the#finer# details# of# relationships# to# be# analysed.# # Lower# numbered# communities# associated# with# the# dune#grassland# branch# are# clearly# determined# by# different# environmental# preferences# to# that# of# the# higher#numbered# communities# belonging# to# the# ericaceous# branch.# # C14# has# been# defined# as# an# ericaceous#community# based# on# the# presence# of# E.- tetralix# and# environmental# conditions# associated# with# this#community#include#soils#with#a#higher#moisture#and#organic#content,#very#low#levels#of#carbonates,#low#pH#values# ranging# between# 4.5# and# 5.09,# high# values# of# shear# strength# and# overall# low# and# fairly# uniform#concentrations#of#nutrients.##C13#is#a#different#variety#of#ericaceous#community,#exhibiting#a#preference#for#a# moisture# content# ranging# between# 12.34%# and# 16.64%,# low# organic# and# carbonate# content,# with# an#average#pH#of#5.83#and#a#preference#for#slightly#higher#concentration#of#phosphates#than#nitrates.##C10#and#C12#are#both#communities# including#J.-communis-ssp.-nana#as#a#preferential# indicator#species.# #C10#has#a#wide#range#in#moisture,#organic#and#carbonate#content,#with#highest#values#of#conductivity#(155.6µS)#and#pH# (7.25).# # C12#has#moderately#high#moisture# content# (38.95%),#pH# (6.54)# and#a#notably#higher# value#of#phosphate# in# comparison# to# other# communities# (0.5).# # C8# is# defined# as# the#more# ericaceous# community#variant# within# the# dune# grassland# branch.# # This# community# has# a# fairly# high# moisture# content# (max# =#13.03%)#and#lower#pH#values#(min#=#4.26)#in#comparison#to#other#dune#grassland#communities.#

25#

#

#

#

##

Figure'17'Variation'in'environmental'parameters'between'userUdefined'communities'derived'from'Figure'10''4.2.3. Wider#dune#environment##The#wider#coastal#dune#system#was#analysed#and#evaluated#using#a#GIS.##Distribution#of#the#abundance#of#particular#characteristic#species#was#analysed#on#a#spatial#scale#(Figures#18#5#21).# #Figure#18#illustrates#the#local#occurrence#of#A.arenaria.# #The#highest#values#of#this#species#occur#predominantly# in#areas#presently#

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mapped#as#fixed#dune.##There#is#a#particular#low#abundance#of#A.-arenaria#at#areas#mapped#as#dune#heath#at#both#Maghera#and#Magheramore.##The#spatial#distribution#of#A.arenaria# is#highly#significant#at#all#sites;#Keadew#(Morans#I#=#0.03;#P#=#<0.05);#Maghera#(Morans#I#=#0.07;#P#=#<0.01)#and#Magheramore#(Morans#I#=#0.08;#P#=#<0.01).##C.-vulgaris#shows#the#opposite#pattern#to#A.-arenaria#(Figure#19),#whereby#higher#values#of#abundance# occurring# in# areas# predominantly# mapped# as# dune# heath.# # However,# there# is# an# expansive#presence#of#this#species#on#the#Carrickahalagh#heathland#which#is#presently#mapped#as#‘Other#(undefined).’##The#occurrence#of#C.-vulgaris#exhibits#highly#significant#clustering#at#Maghera#(Morans# I#=#0.16;#P#=<0.01)#and# Magheramore# (Morans# I# =# 0.26;# P# =# <0.01),# whereas# the# presence# at# Keadew# is# considered# to# be#neither#clustered#nor#dispersed.##Figure#20#shows#the#localised#occurrence#of#E.-nigrum.##This#species#in#not#at# all# present# in# the# current# area# mapped# as# decalcified# dune# heath# with# E.- nigrum# at# Maghera# and#therefore#the#map#should#be#modified.# #This#species#clearly#exhibits#greater#abundance#at#Keadew#and# is#moderately# clustered# (Morans# I# =# 0.02;# P=<0.10).# # Figure# 21# shows# the# abundance# and# occurrence# of# J.-communis-ssp.-nana#and#S.-nigricans#at#Magheramore.##It#is#clear#the#distribution#of#J.-communis-ssp.-nana#is#highly#clustered#(Morans#I#=#0.26;#P=#<0.01)#and#restricted#to#the#inland#rock#outcrop#at#Mullyvea#where#it#exhibits#moderately#high# levels#of# abundance.# #S.- nigricans# exhibits#highest# amount#of#occurrence# in# the#dune#patch#located#in#the#centre#of#the#dune#complex.##However,#the#species#does#locate#itself#in#clustered#patches#(Morans#I#=#0.04;#P#=#<0.01)#within#other#dune#heath#areas#across#Magheramore.##

#Figure'18'%'Coverage'of'A.arenaria'across'sites'

#

#Figure'19'%'coverage'C.vulgaris'across'sites'

#

27#

#Figure'20'%'cover'of'E.nigrum'across'sites'

#

#Figure'21'%'coverage'of'J.1communis1ssp.1nana'and'S.1nigricans'at'Magheramore'

#Figure#22#shows#the#different#classification#schemes#obtained#from#TABLEFIT#and#indicator#species#analysis.##As#can#be#seen,#particular#geomorphological# features#are#highlighted#by#different#communities#and#these#features#are#emphasised#regardless#of#the#classification#scheme#used.##For#example#at#Maghera,#the#fixed#dune#ridge#is#particularly#highlighted,#whereas#at#Magheramore,#the#Carrickalahagh#headland#and#the#rocky#inland#headland#at#Mullyvea#are#emphasised#through#community#classification.##Furthermore#communities#exhibit#highly#significant#patterns#of#clustering,#the#majority#of#which#exhibit#a#less#than#1%#likelihood#that#these#clustered#patterns#occurred#by#chance.##Overall#Magheramore#exhibits#the#highest#values#of#Morans#I,#varying#between#0.1#and#0.34.#

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#Figure'22'Community'classifications'–'Top'row:'C3'–'C7'user'defined'communities'per'site;'Middle'row:'NVC'communities'per'site;'Bottom'row:'CORINE'units'per'site.''Left'column:'Keadew'site'different'classifications;'Middle'column:'Maghera'site'

different'classification;'Right'column:'Magheramore'site'different'classifications'

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5. Discussion'#5.1. Dune'heath'ecology'#The#species#present#within#sites#define#communities# that#consequently#characterise#dune#heath#habitats.##For#the#purposes#of#conservation#it#is#important#to#understand#the#environmental#preferences#of#species#to#determine#the#occurrence#of#communities#(Lammerts#et-al.#1999).##Therefore#the#occurrence#of#particular#species# in# locations# indicates#environmental#conditions.# #S.-nigricans# is#only#present#at#Magheramore#and#therefore#is#a#significant#contrast#in#species#composition#between#sites.# #S.-nigricans# is#considered#to#be#a#basiphilous#pioneer#species#which#requires#a#pH#of#approximately#6#and#a#low#nutrient#availability#(Rozema#et-al.#1985;# Jones#and#Etherington,#1992;#Lammerts#et-al.#1995,#Grootjans#et-al.#1996,#Sival,#1996# ).# # It# is#believed# that# the# low# phosphorus# requirements# of# C.- flacca# and# S.# nigricans# are# maintained# by# pH#dependent#mechanisms# through# the# fixation# of# phosphates# (Lammerts# et- al.# 1999).# # Other# species# also#found#at#the#same#site#within#the#same#community#include#P.-anserina,-H.#vulgaris,-M.-aquatica,-S.-repens-,-C.-flacca,-C.-arenaria,-P.-vulgaris,-C-panicea-and-E.-nigrum.--S.-nigricans#becomes#reduced#in#abundance#as#dwarf#shrubs#such#as#E.-tetralix-and#S.-repens#appear#they#dominate#the#community#(Lammerts#et#al.#1999).##The#presence#of#S.-nigricans#also#indicates#that#the#base#status#in#this#area#is#unlike#that#of#the#wider#dune#system#(Wilson,#1960).# #J.-communis-ssp.-nana# is#another#species#which#occurred#in#greater#abundance#at#Mullyvea# at# Magheramore.# # This# dwarfed# form# of# Juniperus# has# xerophytic# characteristics# as# it# has#particularly# reduced# scale# leaves# and#more# substantial# cuticles# allowing# it# to# survive# in# drier# conditions#either#where# soil#moisture# availability# is# low#or#where# conditions# such#as# exposure/heat/wind# can# cause#excessive# water# loss# (pers.# comm.# Dr.# Fred# Rumsey,# 2010).# # The# species# colonises# across# the# surface#horizontally# producing# a# vegetative# cover# across# the# sand# dune# thereby# preventing# soil# erosion# and#moisture# loss# (Anwar,#2009).# #E.-nigrum# is#a#species# that# is# indicative#of# the#presence#of#decalcified#dune#habitat.# # Keadew# has# a# considerably# greater# contribution# of#E.- nigrum# to# the# composition# of# the# site# in#comparison# to# Maghera# and# Magheramore# which# has# smaller# proportions.# # Empetrum# exhibits# a#competitive#advantage#and# is#able#to#grow#on#relatively#dry#and#disturbed#sand#(Frederiksen#et-al.#2006).##According# to# Jensen# (1993)# a# community# dominated# by# E.- nigrum# is# indicative# of# young# forming# dune#heath.# #Therefore,#the#greater#abundance#of#E.-nigrum#at#this#site#could#signify#the#initial#stages#of#young#dune#heath.##There#are#spatial#patterns#existing#within#vegetation#communities#and#these#are#affected#by#processes#at#both# the# regional/landscape# level# and# also# the# local# level.# # Predominant# biogeographical# patterns# are#determined#by#climate,#soil#and#natural#history.##Heathland#and#mire#type#communities#are#a#predominant#biotope#within#Ireland,#therefore#if#heathland#is#present#in#the#proximity,#it#is#likely#that#typical#species#from#this#habitat#may#colonise#fixed#dune#complexes#(Provoost#et-al.#2002).##However#at#the#more#local#level#it#is#apparent# that# species# assemblages# change# as# a# function#of# development#over# time,#which#emphasises# a#complex# interaction#of#biotic#processes#of#plant#and#soil# formation# (Provoost#et-al.#2002).# #Wilson# (1960)#found#a#zonation#in#flora#across#the#dune#system,#the#youngest#dunes#dominated#by#A.#arenaria#and#then#progression# to# dune# grassland# with# small# proportions# of# ericaceous# species# such# as# E.# cinerea# and# C.-vulgaris#with#community#succession,#resulting#in#Calluna#heath.##This#is#the#situation#likely#to#be#occurring#at#Maghera,# as# A.- arenaria# becomes# reduce# in# abundance# C.- vulgaris# simultaneously# becomes# more#dominant.##Furthermore,#Wilson#(1960)#observed#that#it#was#in#the#older#parts#of#the#dune#system,#where#C.-vulgaris-acts#as#the#dominant#species.##Other#species#that#occur#on#the#oldest#dunes#include#Pteridium#and#Betula#which#may#be#locally#prevalent#as#is#the#case#at#Maghera#(Wilson,#1960).##Furthemore,#at#Maghera#there#are#a#fair#proportion#of#rank#grasses#and#more#scrub#like#species#such#as#R.#spinossissma.##According#

30#

to#Provoost#et-al.#(2002)#vegetation#development#in#most#European#dune#systems#evolve#in#one#direction#to#coarse#grassland#and#scrub#type#habitats#including#species#such#as#A.-elatius-or-S.-repens.-#C.- vulgaris# is# a# characteristic# heathland# species.# # There# is# a# significantly# low# abundance# of# C.vulgaris# at#Keadew,# whereas# this# species# is# widespread# at# both#Maghera# and#Magheramore.# # The# occurrence# and#success# of# this# species# appears# to# be# dependent# on# low# proportions# of# carbonate# and# low# pH# values.##Etherington#(1981)#established#the#environmental#conditions#suitable#for#this#species#and#determined#that#C.- vulgaris# was# associated#with# pH.# # It# was# found# that#Calluna# can# tolerate# soil# pH# between# 3.2# and# 7,#although#it#is#most#commonly#found#within#the#range#3.5#to#6.5#and#a#pH#of#4.2#is#considered#optimum#level#for#growth.# #Etherington#concluded#that#where#C.-vulgaris# is#growing#at#the#extremes#of# its#pH#range,# for#example# on# sand# dunes# which# tend# to# exhibit# high# pH# values,# growth# is# facilitated# by# presence# of#mycorrhiza.# # The# main# limiting# factor# for# calcifuge# plants# on# calcareous# soils# is# iron# deficiency.# # It# is#suggested# that#on#calcareous# soils# this# species# can#compensate# the# lack#of# iron#deficiency#due# to#ericoid#mycorrhizal# infection#of#the#roots#that#encourages#roots#to#increase#iron#uptake,#resulting#in#an#increased#survival#and#growth#rate#(Leake#et-al.#1990).####5.2. Environmental'controls'on'dune'heath'development'#Soil#is#a#fundamental#component#of#ecosystems#and#species#composition#and#communities#present#can#be#strongly#influenced#by#various#soil#factors#(Álvarez5Rogel#et-al.#2007).##It#is#evident#that#the#sites#of#Maghera#and#Magheramore#have#considerably#low#levels#of#carbonate#present#which#has#resulted#in#a#low#pH,#and#therefore# promotes# the# accumulation# of# humus# (Wilson,# 1960).# # Sand# dunes# are# naturally# calcareous#systems,# which# implies# that# carbonate# has# been# lost# at# these# sites# through# processes# of# decalcification#producing#dune#heath#habitat.##Maghera#and#Magheramore#have#CaCO3#contents#similar#to#that#of#Danish#coastal# dunes# which# is# generally# <1%# (Vestergaard,# 1991).# # Sites# of# Maghera# and# Magheramore# are#contrasting# dune# systems# and# the# formation# of# dune# heath# could# have# been# determined# by# different#processes#of#decalcification.##It#is#postulated#that#the#lower#values#of#both#pH#and#carbonates#are#present#within#the#older#areas#of#these#dune#systems.##At#Maghera,#the#back#dune#area#further#landward#is#dominated#by#heathland#communities#and#therefore#it#is#deduced#that#lower#pH#and#carbonate#values#are#present#in#this#area#with#increased#soil#organic# matter.# # This# situation# is# similar# to# that# discovered# at# Kramnitse,# Denmark,# where# landward#unidirectional#decline#in#CaCO3#content#was#attributed#to#leaching#caused#by#precipitation#(Ranwell,#1972;#Vestergaard,#1991).###Vegetation#acts#as#an#important#biotic#environmental#control#in#the#development#of#habitats.##Frederiksen#et-al.- (2006)#believed#that#the#occurrence#of#dune#heath# involves#a#reciprocal#action#or#positive#feedback#effect# between# existing# vegetation# and# soil# development,# promoting# development# of# an# acid# peaty# soil.##The#vegetation#present#on#both#Maghera#and#Magheramore#indicates#ericaceous#communities.##Ericaceous#plants# produce# a# decomposed# material# that# is# inherently# acidic.# # These# plants# produce# more# acids# on#decomposition#promoting#the#release#of#cations#and#carbonates#from#the#surface#soil#horizon.##Therefore,#the#depth#of#carbonate#movement#is#enhanced#in#habitats#that#produce#acid5rich#litter#(Anwar,#2009).##An#initial#increase#in#acidity#stimulates#the#release#of#other#elements#and#ions#within#the#soil#profile,#resulting#in# an# increase# in# nutrient# availability# for# plants# but# ultimately# makes# the# soil# prone# to# leaching.##Consequently,# in# soils# where# carbonates# are# present,# this# vegetative# increase# in# acidity# promotes#decalcification#of#the#system#through#leaching.##Grubb#et-al#(1969)#discovered#that#the#expansion#of#Calluna#into#chalk#heath#habitat#promoted#rapid#acidification#and#the#removal#of#bases#resulting#in#a#mor5humus,#

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peaty# development# of# soil.# # In# contrast,# the# decalcification# of# soils# at#Magheramore# is#more# likely# to# be#related#to#physical#facts#of#formation.##Soil#development#at#Magheramore#is#postulated#to#be#less#well#developed#than#that#of#Maghera#due#to#the#nature#of#a#thin#sandy#substrate#overlain#on#metamorphic#bedrock.##Areas#where#the#bedrock#is#close#to#the#surface#can#reduce#the#ability#of#water#to#percolate#the#soil,#therefore#increasing#the#likelihood#of#surface#ponding,# promoting# the# accumulation# of# organic#matter# and# build# up# of# humic# acids.# # These# conditions#promote#leaching#of#CaCO3#and#increased#acidity.##Sediment#of#sand#dunes#is#a#collection#of#the#surrounding#weathered#geology.# # The#area#of#Maghera# and#Magheramore#are# situated#on#a#metamorphic# silicaceous#geology.##The#weathering#of#the#bedrock#may#encourage#the#growth#of#species#such#as#C.-vulgaris,#as#when#weathered# Fe# minerals# are# produced# acting# as# a# source# of# minerals# that# can# be# absorbed# by# ericoid#mycorrhiza#(Chigira#and#Yamasaki#,#2008;#Leake#et-al.#1990).####Dune#heath#habitat#has#a# very# limited#distribution# situated#on#only#a# few#sites#within#northwest# Ireland.##The#macroclimate# of# the# region# is# postulated# to# be# a# deterministic# factor# for# this# limited# distribution# of#coastal#dune#habitat#(Wartena#et-al.#1991).##The#specific#maritime#and#wetter#climate#of#the#northwestern#coast# could# be# an# environmental# control# for# the# occurrence# of# dune# heath,# for# rates# of# leaching#(decalcification)# and# acidification# are# high# in# areas# with# a# large# amount# of# precipitation# and# low#decomposition#rates#due#to#moderate#temperatures#(Sevink,#1991).##However,#although#the#southwestern#coast#of#Ireland#is#subject#to#very#similar#macroclimatic#conditions,#dune#heath#habitat#is#not#present#within#this#region.# #Another#macroenvironmental#factor#that#could#be#contributing#to#this# localised#occurrence#is#the#metamorphic#geology.##Donegal#has#a#very#unique#geology#and#is#the#only#place#in#Ireland#with#intrusive#granodiorites.##Therefore,#it#can#be#assumed#that#the#interrelation#between#the#macroclimate,#geology#and#processes#associated#with#decalcification#results#in#the#occurrence#of#this#unique#dune#heath#habitat.##5.3. Community'composition'and'classification'#A#number#of#different#communities#have#been#found#within#the#sites#studied.##Analysis#of#site#composition#indicated#that#more#heathland#species#contribute#to#communities#present#at#Maghera#and#Magheramore,#whereas#dune#grassland#species#contribute# to#site#vegetation#at#Keadew.# #Comparison#between#different#classification#systems#does#illustrate#some#similarities.##Communities#present#provide#information#regarding#site#environmental#conditions.# #For#example,#communities#present#at#Magheramore#vary#from#some#sand#dune#communities# through# to#wet#heath#and#even#some#mire/peatland#communities,# indicating# that# the#soil#conditions#are#higher#in#moisture#with#a#greater#organic#content#and#acidic#in#nature.##In#comparison,#at#Maghera# communities# show# a# range# from# drier# dune# communities# to# wetter# dune# and# heathland#communities.# # SD12#communities#were#only#present#at#Keadew.# # Jones#et-al.# (2010)#observed# that#areas#where# the# SD12# communities# were# present# the# vegetation# was# indicating# that# decalcification# was#beginning# to# occur.# # Particularly# communities# highlight# specific# geomorphological# features.# # At#Maghera,#the#fixed#dune#ridge#that#occurs#on#the#seaward#side#of#the#site#is#particularly#distinctive,#regardless#of#the#classification# scheme# used.# # This# indicates# that# physiographic# variation# is# the# factor# controlling# the#vegetation#patterns#present# (Carter#et-al.#1990).# #The#user#defined#communities#particularly#highlight# the#variation#in#communities#between#areas#of#Magheramore.##Due#to#the#composition#of#communities#present#at#Maghera#it#can#be#postulated#that#the#site#is#perhaps#a#more#exemplary#decalcified#due#system#in#comparison#to#that#of#Magheramore.##The#communities#present#indicate#the#natural#processes#of#decalcification#through#leaching#producing#communities#that#conform#to#either#dune#or#heathland#communities.# # #Furthermore,#the#community#affinity#produced#between#species#

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such# as# Calluna- vulgaris&Carex- arenaria,# (NVC# code# H11)# # which# is# a# characteristic# heathland# species#situated# in# the#same#community#classification#as#C.-arenaria#which# is#a#species# that#acts# to#stabilise#sand#and#is#primarily#a#sand#dune#species.##Vegetation# is# a# complex# yet# essential# component# of# ecosystems# and# therefore# merits# description# and#classification# for# both# practical# and# academic# reasons# (Mucina,# 1997).# # Many# conservation# efforts# are#dependent# on# focus# on# particular# sites# that# are# delimited# and# mapped# as# areas# of# a# particular# habitat#through#the#process#of#classification.# #The#process#of#classification#has#evolved#over#time#and#initially#was#quite#qualitative#based#on#the#presence#and#absence#of#a#species,#however#the#process#now#encompasses#the#ecophysiology#of#a# species.# #The#effort#of# conservation#of#dune#heath#environments# in#west#Donegal#could#be#more#effective#if#they#were#better#classified.##Classification#may#be#of#more#value#in#management#planning#if#physiognomic#properties#and#species#dominance#are#emphasised.##Furthermore,#the#use#of#fuzzy#classification#techniques#that#accommodate#transitions#between#distinct#community#types#(Provoost#et-al.#2002;#Mucina,#1997).##The#dune#heath#ecosystems#are#affected#by#a#complex#of#factors,#varying#in#strength#and#scale#and#it#is#of#value#to#have#a#hierarchy#of#classification#in#place.##Although#the#sites#or#Maghera#and#Magheramore#are#within#the#same#regional#context,# there#are# local#variations#existing#between#the#dune#heath#present#on#each#site#and#across#sites.##The#variety#reflected#at#community#level#is#ambiguous#and#is#determined# largely#by# local# conditions# for#each#section#of# the#European#coastline# is#a#unique# function#of#climate,# geomorphology,# soil# (reflected# in# CaCO3# content)# and# natural# history# (Provoost# et- al.# 2002).##Furthermore,# field# situations# are# often# hard# to# delimit# into# classification# schemes# for# they# may# be#degraded,#existing#in#a#subdeveloped#state#of#occupy#a#position#between#‘pure’#associations#(Provoost#et-al.#2002).# # This# could# be# the# situation# associated# with# the# expansive# cover# of# J.- communis- ssp.- nana# at#Mullyvea.# # The# community# present# does# not# have# direct# association#with# a# dune# heath# community# or# a#juniper#heath#community;#it#is#an#individual#localised#variant#of#habitat.##Overall,#classification#distinguishes#several# distinct# communities,# however# these# cannot# be# attributed# unambiguous# affinity# to# particular#environmental#parameters#(Provoost#et-al.#2002).##5.4. Conservation'of'dune'heath'habitats'#Presently,#dune#heath#habitats#are#listed#as#priority#habitats#on#the#EU#Habitats#Directive,#highlighting#the#international#importance#of#these#habitats.##In#the#future,#climate#change#will#have#a#significant#impact#on#these#habitats.##Therefore,#it#is#important#to#understand#the#constraints#that#climate#poses#on#conservation,#for#conservation#managers#can#only#operate#within#the#conditions# imposed#by#natural#climatic#conditions#(Jones# et- al.# 2010).# # Climate# change# will# exert# phenological# changes# on# the# vegetation# communities#affecting#the# functioning#of#dune#ecosystems#through#an# increased#growing#season#modifying#the#rate#of#decomposition#and#leaching#of#nutrients#(Vestergaard,#1991).##By#changing#the#rates#of#leaching#could#have#a#fundamental#effect#on#these#decalcified#habitats,#for#it#is#apparent#that#this#process#is#a#significant#control#on# maintaining# low# carbonate# levels.# # Increased# temperatures# could# promote# litter# decay# rate# and#encourage# a# faster# mineralisation,# causing# a# release# of# available# nutrients.# # A# higher# rate# of#evapotranspiration#from#vegetated#surfaces#could#diminish#downward#soil#movement,#therefore#reducing#leaching#of#CaCO3#and#nutrients#from#the#soil#surface#layer.##The#effects#on#these#processes#could#result#in#an#improved#nutrient#status#of#a#generally#nutrient5poor#dune#habitat#(Vestergaard,#1991).##This#could#have#a#significant#effect#on#all#these#dune#sites#as#it#appears#that#dune#heath#is#characterised#by#nutrient5poor,#low#carbonate#environmental#conditions.##Furthermore,#an#increase#in#aridity#could#favour#the#competitive#ability#of#xerophytic#species#above#mesophytic#species#modifying#the#species#composition#of#these#habitats#(Vestergaard,#1991).##

33#

Effects#of#climate#change#are#likely#to#be#greater#in#coastal#dune#systems#where#precipitation#surpluses#are#small,# modifying# processes# dominated# by# leaching# to# accumulative.# # However,# those# exhibiting# greater#precipitation#surpluses#will#be#less#affected#as#the#general#trend#is#progressing#towards#acidification#of#soils.##A# change# in# climate# may# promote# changes# in# vegetation,# which# if# occur# in# conjunction# with# other# key#factors#directly#to#vegetation#would#have#a#strong#impact#on#soil#development#(Sevink,#1991).#

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6. Conclusion'#There# is# a# serious# amount# of# complexity# surrounding# the# environmental# controls# and# their# relative#importance# on# the# vegetation# and# distribution# of# dune# heath# habitats# in# northwest# Ireland.# # The# sites#studied# all# show# some# variation# in# the# type# of# dune# heath# habitat# present,# with# some# species# more#prominent# or# only# present# at# particular# sites.# # Habitat# characteristics# vary# and# there# exists# a# biodiverse#complex#of#species#associated#with#both#dune#and#heath#habitats,#exemplified#by#the#environmental#spread#of# communities#present.# # It# is# clear# that#many#of# the#biological# gradients# that# exist# are# interrelated#with#physiographic#variation#(Carter#et-al.#1990).##The# processes# operating# vary# across# scales# and# over# time.# # At# the# macroscale,# climate# produces# a#significantly#deterministic#factor#within#the#development#of#these#systems;#rainfall#being#important#to#the#processes# of# leaching# but# also# wind# that# acts# as# a# source# of# sediment# and# CaCO3.# # Furthermore,# it# is#apparent#that#the#geology#of#the#regional#area#acts#as#a#control#on#the#distribution#and#existence#of#these#habitats,#promoting#the#existence#of#acidified#conditions.# #Further#complexity#is#added#to#the#existence#of#dune# heath# for# biotic# processes# interact# with# abiotic# forces.# # The# pattern# of# zonation# and# succession#associated# with# communities# across# the# dune# system# is# determined# by# environmental# conditions.# # The#species# and# communities# present# has# a# reciprocal# action,# for# vegetation# acts# as# an# important# input# of#organic#matter#to#the#system#and#with#an#increase#in#vegetation#due#to#succession#over#time#results#in#an#increase# in# organic# matter# consequently# increasing# soil# moisture# development# and# further# acidifying#conditions.# # Furthermore,# particular# species# of# vegetation# modify# environmental# conditions,# such# as# C.-vulgaris-which# is#a#characteristic#species#that#can#survive# in#conditions#with#a#higher#organic#content,#low#CaCO3#content,#higher#moisture#content#and#overall#nutrient5poor,#acidic#conditions.##Modifications# to# the#habitat#are# likely# to#occur# in# the# face#of# climate#change#and# therefore#conservation#action#aimed#at#this#type#of#habitat#will#need#to#fully#understand#the#ecological#environmental#complexity#of#the#system.##

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7. References'#Álvarez5Rogel,# J.,#Carrasco,L.,#Marín,#C.#and#Martínez5Sánchez,# J.# (2007)#Soils#of#a#dune#coastal#salt#marsh#system#in#relation#to#groundwater#level,#micro5topography#and#vegetation#under#a#semiarid#Mediterranean#climate#in#SE#Spain.#Catena.-69'pp.#1115121.##Anwar,#M.#(2009)#The-biology-of-coastal-sand-dunes.-Oxford#University#Press.##Barrett5Mold,#C.#(2007)#The#influence#of#morphological#evolution#on#coastal#dune#plant#species#composition#and#succession.#MSc-Conservation-thesis-submitted-UCL.-#Berendse,# F.,# Lammerts,# E.# and# Olff,# H.# (1998)# Soil# organic#matter# accumulation# and# its# implications# for#nitrogen# mineralization# and# plant# species# composition# during# succession# in# coastal# dune# slacks.# Plant-ecology.137'pp.#71578.##Burningham,#H.# (2002)#Meso5scale#morphological# changes# in# the# Loughros#More# estuary.#Proceedings- of-Littoral-2002:-The-Changing-Coast.-3'pp.#2655270.##Burningham,# H.# (2005)# Morphological# behaviour# of# a# high5energy# coastal# inlet:# Loughros# Beg,# Donegal,#Ireland.# In:# Fitzgerald,# D.# and# Knight,# J.# (Eds)# (2005)# Morphodynamics- and- sedimentary- evolution- of-estuaries.-Springer,#pp.#215#–#242.##Burningham,# H.# (2008)# Contrasting# geomorphic# response# to# structural# control:# the# Loughros# estuaries,#northwest#Ireland.#Geomorphology-97(3/4)#pp.#300#–#320..-#Burningham,#H.#and#Cooper,# J# (2004)#Morphology#and#historical#evolution#of#northeast#Atlantic#deposits:#the#west#Donegal#estuaries,#northwest#Ireland.#Journal-of-coastal-research.-41'pp.#1485159.##Carter,#R.#(1990)#Geomorphology#of#the#Irish#coastal#dunes.#Catena-supplement.-18'pp.#31540.##Carter,#R.#(1991)#Near5future#sea#level#impacts#on#coastal#dune#landscapes.#Landscape-ecology.-6'pp.#29539.##Carter,# R.# and#Wilson,# P.# (1993)#Aeolian#processes# and#deposits# in# northwest# Ireland.#Geological- society,-London,-Special-Publications.-72'pp.#1735190.##Carter,#R.,#Nordstrom,#K.#and#Psuty,#N.#(1990)#The#study#of#coastal#dunes.# In:#Nordstrom,K.,#Psuty,#N.#and#Carter,#B.#(Eds)#Coastal-dunes:-Form-and-Process.-John#Wiley#and#Sons:#Chichester.##Chigira,# M.# and# Yamasaki,# S.# (2008)# Weathering# processes# of# pelitic# schist# and# its# role# in# landslide#development.#Geophysical-research-abstracts.-Vol.#10.##Dowdeswell,#W.#(1984)#Ecology-principles-and-practice.-Heinemann#Educational#Books.#312pp.##ESRI# (2010)# Spatial# autocorrelation:# Morans# I.#[http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.2/index.cfm?TopicName=Spatial_Autocorrelation_(Morans_I)_(Spatial_Statistics)]#Accessed#13/08/2010.##

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Etherington,# J.# (1981)# Limestone# heaths# in# southwest# Britain:# their# soils# and# the# maintenance# of# their#calcicole5calcifuge#mixtures.#Journal-of-ecology.-69'pp.#2775294##Fitter,#R.,#Fitter,#A.#and#Farrer,A.#(1984)#Grasses,-sedges,-rushes-and-ferns-of-Britain-and-Northern-Europe.-Collins,#256#pp.#-Frederiksen,# L.,# Kollmann,# J.,# Vestergaard,# P.# and# Bruun,# H.# (2006)# A# multivariate# approach# to# plant#community#distribution#in#the#coastal#dune#zonation#of#NW#Denmark.#Phytocoenologia.-36'(3)#pp.#3215342.##Gaynor,#K#(2006)#The#vegetation#of#Irish#machair.#Biology-and-environment:-proceedings-of-the-Royal-Irish-Academy.-106B'(3)#pp.#3115321.##Greaver,#T.#and#Sternberg,#L#(2006)#Fluctuating#deposition#of#ocean#water#drives#plant#function#on#coastal#sand#dunes.#Global-change-biology.-12#pp.#158.##Grootjans,# A.,# Sival,# F.# and# Stuyfzand,# P.# (1996)# Hydro5geochemical# analysis# of# a# degraded# dune# slack.#Vegetatio.-126'pp.#27#–#38.##Grubb,#P.,#Green,#H.#and#Merrifield,#R.#(1969)#The#ecology#of#chalk#heath:#its#relevance#to#the#calcicole5calcifuge#and#soil#acidification#problems.#Journal-of-ecology.#57#pp.#1755212.##Grunewald,#R.#and#Schubert,#H.# (2007)#The#definition#of#a#new#plant#diversity# index#“H’dune”# for#assessing#human#damage#on#coastal#dunes#–#Derived#from#the#Shannon#index#of#entropy#H’.#Ecological-indicators.-7'pp.1521.##Hill,# M.# (1996)# TABLEFIT# version- 1.0,- for- identification- of- vegetation- types.- Huntingdon:# Institute# of#Terrestrial#Ecology.##Irish# Meteorological# Office# (2010)# 30&year- averages.- [http://www.met.ie/climate/30year5averages.asp].#Accessed#on#15/08/2010.##Isermann,#M.#and#Cordes,#H.#(1992)#Changes#in#dune#vegetation#on#Spiekeroog#(east#Friesian#islands)#over#a#30#year#period.# In:#Carter#R.,#Curtis,#T.#and#Sheehey5Skeffington,#M.#(Eds)#Coastal-dunes:-Geomorphology,-Ecology- and- Management- for- Conservation.- Proceedings# of# the# 3rd# European# Dune# Congress.# Galway,#Ireland:#Balkema,#Rotterdam#pp.#201#–#209.##Jensen,# A.# (1993)# Dry# coastal# ecosystems# of# Denmark.# # –# In:# van# der#Maarel,# E.# (Ed.)# Ecosystems- of- the-World-2A.-Dry-coastal-ecosystems:-polar-regions-and-Europe.-pp.#183#–#196.##Jones,#M.,#Sowerby,#A.#and#Rhind,#P.#(2010)#Factors#affecting#vegetation#establishment#and#development#in#a#sand#dune#chronosequence#at#Newborough#Warren,#North#Wales.#Journal-of-coastal-conservation.-14'pp.#1275137.##Jones,# P.# and# Etherington,# J.# (1992)# Autecological# studies# on# the# rare# orchid# Liparis- loeselii- and# their#application# to# the# management# of# dune# slack# ecosystems# in# South#Wales.# # In:# Carter# R.,# Curtis,# T.# and#Sheehey5Skeffington,#M.#(Eds)#Coastal-dunes:-Geomorphology,-Ecology-and-Management-for-Conservation.-Proceedings#of#the#3rd#European#Dune#Congress.#Galway,#Ireland:#Balkema,#Rotterdam#pp#2995312.#

37#

#Kent,#M.#and#Coker,#P.#(1992)#Vegetation-description-and-analysis:-a-practical-approach.-London:#Belhaven#press.##King,#T#(1989)#Ecology.-Nelson#181#pp.##Labuz,#T.# (2005)#Present5day#dune#environment#dynamics#on#the#coast#of#the#Swina#Gate#Sandbar#(Polish#West#Coast).#Estuarine,-coastal-and-shelf-science.-62'pp.#5075520.##Lammerts,#E.,#Grootjans,#A.,#Stuyfzand,#P.#and#Sival,#F.#(1995)#Endangered#dune#slack#plants:#gastronomers#in#need#of#mineral#water.#In:#Salman,#A.#Berendse,#H.#and#Bonazountas,#M.#(Eds)#Coastal-management-and-habitat-conservation,-Vol#1#pp.#3555369.#EUCC,#Leiden.##Lammerts,# E.,# Pegtel,# D.,# Grootjans,# A.# and# van# der# Veen,# A.# (1999)# Nutrient# limitation# and# vegetation#changes#in#a#coastal#dune#slack.#Journal-of-vegetation-science.-10'pp.1115122.##Leake,#J.,#Shaw,#G.#and#Read,#D.#(1990)#The#biology#of#Mycorrhiza#in#the#Ericaceae.#XVI.#Mycorrhiza#and#Iron#uptake# in#Calluna#vulgaris# (L.)#Hull# in# the#presence#of# two#calcium#salts.#New-phytologist.-114(4)#pp.#6515657.##Moreno5Casasola,#P.#(1986)#Sand#movement#as#a#factor#in#the#distribution#of#plant#communities#in#a#coastal#dune#system.#Vegetatio.-65'pp.#67576.##Mucina,#L.#(1997)#Classification#of#vegetation:#past,#present#and#future.#Journal-of-vegetation-science.-8'pp.#7515760.##Murray,# A.# (2000)# Site# report# from# the# Coastal# Monitoring# Project# for#West# of# Ardara/Maas# Road# site.#National#Parks#and#Wildlife#Service,#unpublished.##National# Parks# and# Wildlife# Service# (2005)# West- of- Ardara/Maas- Road- SAC- Site- synopsis.-[http://www.npws.ie/en/media/Media,3889,en.pdf]#Accessed#on#12/08/2010.##Nierop#,#K.,#Naafs,#D.#and#Verstraten,#J.# (2003)#Occurrence#and#distribution#of#ester5bound#lipids# in#Dutch#coastal#dune#soils#along#a#pH#gradient.#Organic-geochemistry.-34'pp.#7195729.##O’Briain,M.#(2005)#EU#biodiversity#policy#context#for#the#conservation#of#estuaries#and#dune.#In:#Herrier,#J.,#Mees,# J,# Salman,# A.,# Seys,# J.,# van# Nieuwenhuyse,# H# and# Dobbelaere,# I.# (Eds)#Dunes- and- estuaries- 2005:-Proceedings.- pp.# 7# –# 12.# International# conference# on# Nature# Restoration# Practices# in# European# Coastal#Habitats,#Koksijde,#Belgium,#19523#Sep#2005.#VLIZ#Special#publication#19.#Flanders#Marine# Institute# (VLIZ),#Oostende,#BE.###pers.#comm.#Dr#Fred#Rumsey#(2010)#Natural#History#Museum,#London.##Provoost,# S.# and# van# Landuyt,#W.# (2001)# The# flora# of# the# Flemish# coastal# dunes# (Belgium)# in# a# changing#landscape.# # In:# Houston,# J.,# Edmundson,# S.,# and# Rooney,# P.# (Eds)# Coastal# dune# management.# Shared#experience#of#European#conservation#practice.-Proceedings#of#the#European#Symposium.-Coastal-Dunes-of-

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the-Atlantic- biogeographical- region.-Southport,# northwest# England,# Sept# 1998.# Liverpool#University# Press#pp.#393#–#401.##Provoost,# S.,# Ampe,# C.,# Bonte,# D.,# Cosyns,# E.# and# Hoffmann,# M.# (2002)# Ecology,# management# and#monitoring# or# dune# grassland# in# Flanders,# Belgium.# Littoral- 2002- The- Changing- Coast-EUROCOAST/EUCC#Porto5Portugal#Ed.#EUROCOAST5Portugal#ISBN#9725855850950.##Provoost,#S.,#Edmundson,#S.#and#Jones,#M.#(2009)#Changes#in#landscape#and#vegetation#of#coastal#dunes#in#northwest#Europe:#a#review.#Journal-of-coastal-conservation.-DOI:10.1007/s11852-009-0068-5.##Ranwell,#D.#(1972)#Ecology-of-salt-marshes-and-sand-dunes.-Chapman#and#Hall:#London.##Rhind,#P.,#Blackstock,#T.,#Hardy,#H.,#Jones,#R.#and#Sandison,#W.#(2001)#The#evolution#of#Newborough#Warren#dune#system#with#particular#reference#to#the#past#four#decades.#In:#Houston,#J.,#Edmundsen,#S.#and#Rooney,#P.#(Eds)#Coastal#dune#management.##Shared#experience#of#European#Conservation#Practice.##Proceedings#of#the# European# Symposium.# Coastal- dunes- of- the- Atlantic- biogeographical- region.- Southport,# northwest#England,#Sept#1998.##Liverpool#University#Press#pp.#3455379.##Rodwell,#J.#(Ed)#(2000)#British-Plant-Communities.-Cambridge:#Cambridge#University#Press.##Rose,#F.# (2005)#The-wild-flower-key-:-How-to- identify-wild-flowers,-trees-and-shrubs- in-Britain-and-Ireland.-Penguin#Books:#London.##Rozema,#J.,#Laan,#P.,#Broekman,#R.,#Ernst,#W.#and#Appelo,#C.#(1985)#Lime#transition#and#decalcification#in#the#coastal#dunes#of# the#province#north#Holland#and#the# island#of#Schiermonnikoog.# #Acta.-Bot.-Neerl.-34'pp.#393#–#411.##Ryle,#T.,#Connolly,#K.,#Murray,#A.#and#Swann,#M.#(2009)#Coastal-Monitoring-Project-2004&2006.-Unpublished#report# to# the# National# Parks# and# Wildlife# Service,# available# from#[http://www.npws.ie/en/media/NPWS/Publications/Reports/Media,6710,en.pdf].##Sevink,# J.# (1991)# Soil# development# in# the# coastal# dunes# and# its# relation# to# climate.# Landscape- ecology-6'(1/2)#pp.#49556.##Sival,# P,(# 1996)#Mesotrophic# basiphilous# communities# affected#by# changes# in# soil# properties# in# two#dune#slack#chronosequences.##Acta-Bot.-Neerl.-45'pp.95#–#106.##Slingsby,#D.#and#Cook,#C.#(1986)#Practical-ecology.-Macmillan,#213#pp.##Townend,#J.#(2002)#Practical-statistics-for-environmental-and-biological-scientists.--Wiley:#Chichester.##Troen,#I.#and#Petersen,#E.#(1989)#European-wind-atlas.-Roskilde,#Denmark.#In#Carter,#R.#and#Wilson,#P.#(1993)#Aeolian#processes# and#deposits# in# northwest# Ireland.#Geological- society,- London,- Special- Publications.-72'pp.#1735190.##van#der#Maarel,# E.#Boot,#R.# van#Dorp,#D.# and#Rijntjes,# J.# (1985)#Vegetation# succession#on# the#dunes#near#Oostvorne,#the#Netherlands;#a#comparison#of#the#vegetation#in#1959#and#1980.#Vegetatio.-58'pp.#1375187.#

39#

#van#der#Meulen,#F.,#Bakker,#T.#and#Houston,#J.# (2004)#The#costs#of#our#coasts:#examples#of#dynamic#dune#management# from# western# Europe.# In:# Martínez,# M.# and# Psuty,# N.# (Eds)# Coastal- dunes:- ecology- and-conservation.-pp.#259#–#278.#Springer5verlag,#Berlin,#DE.##Vestergaard,#P.# (1991)#Morphology#and#vegetation#of#a#dune#system# in#southeast#Denmark# in# relation#to#climate#change#and#sea#level#rise.#Landscape-ecology.-6(1/2)#pp.#77587.##Wartena,#L.,#van#Boxel,#J.#and#Veenhuysen,#D.#(1991)#Macroclimate,#microclimate#and#dune#formation#along#the#West#European#coast.#Landscape-ecology.-6(1/2)#pp.#15527.##Willis,#A.#and#Yemm,#E.#(1961)#Braunton#Burrows:#Mineral#nutrient#status#of#the#dune#soils.#The-journal-of-ecology.-49'(2)#pp.#377#–#390.##Wilson,#K.#(1960)#The#time#factor#in#the#development#of#dune#soils#at#South#Haven#Peninsula,#Dorset.#The-journal-of-ecology.-48(2)#pp.#3415359.#-

40#

8. Appendix'#8.1. Ordination'output'tables'#

Table'3'Maghera'DCA'output'Axes# 1# 2# 3# 4# Total#inertia#Eigenvalues# 0.451# 0.181# 0.122# 0.087# #Length#of#gradient# 4.136# 2.407# 1.435# 1.541# #Cumulative# percentage#variance#of#species#data#

20.8# 29.2# 34.8# 38.8# #

Sum#of#all#eigenvalues# # # # # 2.167##

Table'4'Maghera'RDA'output'Axes# 1# 2# 3# 4# Total#variance#Eigenvalues# 0.165# 0.097# 0.061# 0.039# 1.000#Species5environment#correlations#

0.759# 0.729# 0.704# 0.653# #

Cumulative# percentage#variance#of#species#data#

16.5# 26.2# 32.3# 36.2# #

Cumulative# percentage#of# species5environment#relation#

38.1# 60.4# 74.6# 83.6# #

Sum#of#all#eigenvalues# # # # # 1.000#Sum# of# canonical#eigenvalues#

# # # # 0.433#

#Table'5'Magheramore'DCA'output'

Axes# 1# 2# 3# 4# Total#inertia#Eigenvalues# 0.511# 0.225# 0.155# 0.126# 3.047#Length#of#gradient# 4.101# 2.583# 2.933# 2.464# #Cumulative# percentage#variance#of#species#data#

16.8# 24.1# 29.2# 33.4# #

Sum#of#all#eigenvalues# # # # # 3.047##

Table'6'Magheramore'RDA'output'Axes# 1# 2# 3# 4# Total#variance#Eigenvalues# 0.133# 0.086# 0.039# 0.032# 1.000#Species5environment#correlations#

0.766# 0.795# 0.641# 0.703# #

Cumulative# percentage#variance#of#species#data#

13.3# 21.9# 25.8# 28.9# #

Cumulative# percentage#of# species5environment#relation#

37.4# 61.7# 72.6# 81.5# #

Sum#of#all#eigenvalues# # # # # 1.000#Sum# of# all# canonical#eigenvalues#

# # # # 0.355#

41#

#Table'7'Keadew'DCA'output'

Axes# 1# 2# 3# 4# Total#inertia#Eigenvalues# 0.406# 0.272# 0.138# 0.088# 2.402#Length#of#gradient# 2.777# 2.391# 2.138# 1.946# #Cumulative# percentage#variance#of#species#data#

16.9# 28.2# 33.9# 37.6# #

Sum#of#all#eigenvalues# # # # # 2.402##

Table'8'Keadew'RDA'output'Axes# 1# 2# 3# 4# Total#variance#Eigenvalues# 0.354# 0.197# 0.115# 0.098# 1.000#Species5environment#correlations#

1.000# 1.000# 1.000# 1.000# #

Cumulative# percentage#variance#of#species#data#

35.4# 55.1# 66.6# 76.5# #

Cumulative# percentage#of# species5environment#relation#

35.4# 55.1# 66.6# 76.5# #

Sum#of#all#eigenvalues# # # # # 1.000#Sum# of# all# canonical#eigenvalues#

# # # # 1.000#

'

42#

#8.2. Species'lists'indicating'those'present'at'all'sites'or'occurrence'at'one'particular'site'All'sites' Maghera'only' Magheramore'only' Keadew'only'Ammophila'arenaria'Marram#grass'

Betula'pubescens'Downy#birch#

Agrostis'capillaris'Common#bent#

Armeria'maritima'Thrift#

Anthyllis'vulneraria''Kidney#vetch'

Dactylis'glomerata'Cocks#foot#grass#

Anagallis'tenella'Bog#pimpernel#

Centaurea'nigra'Common#knapweed#

Anthoxanthum'odoratum'Sweet#vernal#grass#

Juncus'squarrosus'Heath#rush#

Briza'media''Quaking#grass#

Dactylorhiza'spp.'Orchid#

Arrhenatherum'elatius'False#oat'grass'

Nardus'stricta'Mat#grass#

Carex'caryophyllea'Spring#sedge#

Daucus'carota'Wild#carrot#

Bellis'perennis'Daisy#

Pyrola'minor'Common#wintergreen#

Carex'hostiana'Tawny#sedge#

Eryngium'maritimum'Sea#holly#

Calluna'vulgaris'Common#heather#–#Ling#

Veronica'arvensis'Common#speedwell#

Dactylorhiza'majalis'Common#marsh#orchid#

'

Carex'arenaria''Sand#sedge#

Vicia'cracca'Tufted#vetch#

Dactylorhiza'purpurella'Northern#marsh#orchid#

'

Carex'flacca'Glaucous#sedge#

' Equisetum'palustre'Marsh#horsetail#

'

Centaurium'erythraea'Common#centaury#

' Fragaria'vesca'Wild#strawberry#

'

Cerastium'fontanum'Common#mouse#ear#

' Helictotrichon'pratense'Meadow#oat#grass#

'

Dactylorhiza'maculata'Heath#spotted#orchid#

' Heracleum'sphondylium'Common#hogweed#

'

Empetrum'nigrum'Crowberry#

' Juncus'spp.'Rush#species#

'

Eriophorum'angustifolium'Cotton#grass#

' Lolium'perenne'Perennial#rye#grass##

'

Euphrasia'nemorosa'Eyebright#

' Mentha'aquatica'Water#mint#

'

Festuca'rubra'Red#fescue#

' Narthecium'ossifragum'Bog#asphodel#

'

Galium'verum'Ladys#bedstraw#

' Pedicularis'sylvatica'Lousewort#

'

Holcus'lanatus'Yorkshire#fog#

' Phragmites'australis'Common#reed#

'

Hypochaeris'radicata'Cats#ear#

' Pinguicula'vulgaris'Common#butterwort#

'

Juniperus'communis'ssp.'nana'Juniper#(variant)'

' Ranunculus'flammula'Lesser#spearwort#

'

Koeleria'macrantha'Crested#hair#grass#

' Rubus'fructicosus'Bramble#

'

Linum'catharticum'Fairy#flax#

' Schoenus'nigricans'Black#bog#rush#

'

Lotus'corniculatus'Birds5foot#Trefoil#

' Selaginella'selaginoides''

'

Luzula'campestris'Field#wood#rush#

' Solidago'virgaurea'Goldenrod#

'

Pilosella'officinarum' ' ' '

43#

Mouse#ear#hawkweed#Plantago'lanceolata'Ribwort#plantain#

' ' '

Poa'pratensis'Common#meadow#grass#

' ' '

Polygala'vulgaris'Common#milkwort#

' ' '

Potentilla'erecta'Tormentil#

' ' '

Primula'vulgaris'Primrose#

' ' '

Pteridium'aquilinum'Bracken#

' ' '

Ranunculus'bulbosus'Bulbous#buttercup#

' ' '

Rumex'acetosella'Sheeps#sorrel#

' ' '

Salix'repens'Creeping#willow#

' ' '

Sedum'acre'Biting#stonecrop#

' ' '

Senecio'jacobaea'Common#ragwort#

' ' '

Succisa'pratensis'Devils#bit#scabious#

' ' '

Taraxacum'officinale'Dandelion#

' ' '

Thymus'polytrichus'Wild#thyme#

' ' '

Trifolium'repens'White#clover#

' ' '

Viola'riviniana'Common#dog#violet#

' ' '

#

44#

8.3. Species'abbreviations'Achi#mill# # List#ovat#Agro#capi# # Loli#pere#Ammo#aren# Lotu#corn#Anag#tene# # Luzu#camp#Ante#dioi# # Ment#aqua#Anth#vuln# # Moli#caer#Anth#odor# # Nard#stri#Arme#mari# Nart#ossi#Arrh#elat# # Orch#masc#Bell#pere# # Pedi#sylv#Betu#pube# # Phra#aust#Briz#medi# # Pilo#offi#Call#vulg# # Ping#vulg#Card#prat# # Plan#lanc#Care#aren# # Plan#mari#Care#cary# # Poa#prat#Care#flac# # Poly#vulg#Care#host# # Pote#anse#Care#nigr# # Pote#erec#Care#pani# # Prim#vulg#Cent#nigr# # Prun#vulg#Cent#eryt# # Pter#aqui#Cera#font# # Pyro#mino#Cirs#diss# # Ranu#bulb#Cyno#cris# # Ranu#flam#Dact#glom# # Rhin#mino#Dact#macu# Rosa#spin#Dact#maja# # Rubu#fruc#Dact#purp# # Rume#acet#Dact#spp.# # Sali#repe#Dauc#caro# # Scho#nigr#Empe#nigr# # Sedu#acre#Equi#palu# # Sela#sela#Eric#cine# # Sene#aqua#Eric#tetr# # Sene#jaco#Erio#angu# # Sile#mari#Eryn#mari# # Soli#virg#Euph#nemo# Succ#prat#Fest#rubr# # Tara#offi#Fest#vivi# # Thym#poly#Frag#vesc# # Trif#prat#Gali#veru# # Trif#repe#Heli#prat# # Vero#arve#Hera#spho# # Vero#cham#Holc#lana# # Vici#crac#Hyac#non5# # Viol#rivi#Hydr#vulg# # #Hype#pulc# # #Hypo#radi# # #Jasi#mont# # #Junc#ssp.# # #Junc#squa# # #Juni#comm# #Koel#macr# # #Linu#cath# # #

45#

'