School of Natural Resources and Environment

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School of Natural Resources and Environment
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How to care and why!
Sand Dunes
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How are dunes formed?

• Coastal dunes are formed when sand is trapped
  around the stems, leaves and roots of plants in
  the vegetated areas of the beach

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Why are Dunes Important?

• The sand dune system along Navarre Beach helps
  protect the mainland and buildings from the force
  of tropical storms and hurricanes. The dune
  system absorbs the energy of storm waves

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Why use different plants to restore dunes?

• Should we plant Sea Oat Turf?

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• Many different species of plants naturally occur
  in the dune system

This diversity offers more opportunities for
trapping sand and provides habitat for wildlife
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Is it beneficial to plant more than one species
when restoring dunes?

• Will a variety of plants trap sand differently
  than a monoculture?
• Will survival of a variety of plants differ from
  survival of a monoculture?

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• Beach Elder
• Iva imbricata

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• Bitter Panicum
• Panicum amarum

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• Gulf Bluestem
• Schizachyrium maritimum

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• Sea Oats
• Uniola paniculata

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Site 7

• Monoculture

Beach Elder
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Site 8

• Plantings combining 3 species

Beach Elder
Gulf Bluestem
Sea Oats
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Sites 10 11

• Plantings combining 2 species

Sea Oats
Bitter Panicum
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Kiosks are installed at each site to provide
information for the public
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Citizen involvement and public education are
integral to increasing public coastal awareness
and stewardship
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How can you help protect dunes?

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Utilize dune walkovers whenever possible!

• Footpaths through dunes can cause blowouts in
  the dune system during storms
• Surging water washes away sand that makes up the
  dune

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• Coastal Stewardship practices for all
• Avoid picking or damaging dune plants
• Keep pets on a leash and out of dunes
• Dont litter

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For more information

• Visit the UF Barrier Island Dunes website at
  http//wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/dunes
• or
• Visit the Navarre Beach study sites at public
  access sites 7, 8, 10, and 11

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Project Leaders Dr. Debbie Miller Dr. Mack
Thetford Christine Verlinde
Collaborators Josiah Raymer Andrew
Diller Scott Jackson

• Special Thanks
• Cary Levins Mike Martino
• Kathy Hardin Barry Ballard
• Nik McCue Tanya Alvarez