Sampling protocol for assessment of marine diversity on sandy beaches.

Abstract

Present from Patagonia to the Artic and more frequented by people than any other type of shoreline, sandy beaches have been commonly neglected in long term ecological and conservation programs, as well as in politicians’ and stakeholders’ agendas. This is a contrasting situation when considering the intrinsic relationship with human societies and the unique role of sandy shores in providing ecosystem services. A lack of standardized data of this very dynamic environment, with huge variation in geological history, tide range, sediment texture, slope, and exposition to waves, make investigations of large temporal and spatial patterns a big challenge, compromising the forecasting of future ecological scenarios and management activities. For the first time on a Pole to Pole scale, this protocol aims to address simple tools and best practices towards an implementation of standardized tools of investigation at large temporal and spatial scales able to detect relationships between ecological patterns and global climatic changes. We hope to provide common and useful indicators of sandy beach ecosystem functions and environmental changes that can be used by the scientific community and by stakeholders for a sustainable management of coastal zones, such as macrofauna diversity, ghost crab density, macroplastic occurrence and biomass of detritus at the drift line.