Dunes, Shingle & Machair

Effects and implications

• These systems are adapted to low levels of mineral N availability: increasing the availability of N will threaten the competitive balance between species leading to changes in composition and loss of habitat species constants.
• Speeds up succession through the chronosequence, movement between the dune stages.
• Lichens and mosses are particularly sensitive both from direct effects associated with N accumulation and from shading as a consequence of increase growth of overstorey vegetation in response to N deposition