About this Research Topic
Research on sandy beaches has long been framed by unique ecological paradigms, mostly related to physical-biological coupling. Efforts in testing classical hypotheses, however, have been overshadowed by an isolated and short-term focus on anthropogenic impacts, rarely investigating their interactions with the physical environment, even if these are the main factors in structuring beach communities. Observational studies at local scales and meta-analyses have advanced slowly in providing a mechanistic understanding of how human stressors affect resident and transient fauna. Innovative hypotheses, sampling designs, manipulation experiments, the application of new technologies, use of different biological surrogates, novel outlooks on typical subject matters, and even the active citizenship are nowadays imperative to the advancement of the field. This research topic envisages providing an opportunity to fresh and daring research that can contribute to new, open scientific challenges in the scope of sandy beach ecology and conservation during the anthropocene.
The main goal of this Research Topic is to collect outcomes from testing classical and novel hypotheses in the scope of sandy beach ecology, considering the role of the physical environment and human stressors on biological patterns. Studies coupling beach ecology, plastic pollution, citizen science or methodological innovations are welcome. There is no bias for local or regional studies, particularly when targeting neglected biological models, but works with mechanistic or manipulative experiments as well as correlative studies at large scales are especially desirable. Studies applying integrated, new approaches and/or technologies are encouraged, although the last should be preferentially supported by large-scale meta-analyses.
Specific themes that can be addressed:
- Interaction between human disturbances and beach morphodynamics shaping biological systems.
- Habitat selection by transient fauna
- Selection of priority areas for conservation
- Impact of restoration and mitigation actions on biological systems
- Role of beach geomorphological characteristics on macro- and microplastic dynamics
- Fauna-marine litter interactions
- Potential role of citizen science and monitoring on beach environments, to depict patterns and dynamics
- Role of biotic interactions shaping community and/or populational patterns at fine scales
- Trophic ecology and its relationship with the physical and anthropogenic dimensions
- Depiction of how isolate human disturbances affects biological systems under a range of diffuse impacts
- Integrated, new approaches and/or technologies
The main goal of this Research Topic is to collect outcomes from testing classical and novel hypotheses in the scope of sandy beach ecology, considering the role of the physical environment and human stressors on biological patterns. Studies coupling beach ecology, plastic pollution, citizen science or methodological innovations are welcome. There is no bias for local or regional studies, particularly when targeting neglected biological models, but works with mechanistic or manipulative experiments as well as correlative studies at large scales are especially desirable. Studies applying integrated, new approaches and/or technologies are encouraged, although the last should be preferentially supported by large-scale meta-analyses.
Specific themes that can be addressed:
- Interaction between human disturbances and beach morphodynamics shaping biological systems.
- Habitat selection by transient fauna
- Selection of priority areas for conservation
- Impact of restoration and mitigation actions on biological systems
- Role of beach geomorphological characteristics on macro- and microplastic dynamics
- Fauna-marine litter interactions
- Potential role of citizen science and monitoring on beach environments, to depict patterns and dynamics
- Role of biotic interactions shaping community and/or populational patterns at fine scales
- Trophic ecology and its relationship with the physical and anthropogenic dimensions
- Depiction of how isolate human disturbances affects biological systems under a range of diffuse impacts
- Integrated, new approaches and/or technologies
Keywords: Conservation, Plastic, Macrofauna, Surf Zone, Shorebirds, Habitat Selection, Morphodynamics, Human Impact, Pollution, Macroecology
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
