Coastal dunes occur in almost every latitude - from tropical to polar - and have been substantially altered by human activities. Many are already severely and irreversibly degraded. Although these ecosystems have been studied for a long time (as early as 1835), there has been a strong emphasis on the mid-latitude dune systems and a lack of attention given to the tropics where, unfortunately, much of the modern exploitation and coastal development for tourism is occurring.

This book brings together coastal dune specialists from tropical and temperate latitudes, which together cover a wide set of topics, including: geomorphology, community dynamics, ecophysiology, biotic interactions and environmental problems and conservation. A major product of this book is a set of recommendations for future research, identifying relevant topics where detailed knowledge is still lacking. It also identifies management tools that will promote and maintain the rich diversity of the dune environments in the context of continuing coastal development.

This annual report documents the collection of shoreline position data and describes the short- term variation that has occurred during the period from Spring 2008 to Spring 2009 in the Fire Island barrier island, including elements of the Fire Island National Seashore, as called for in the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network's protocol on shoreline monitoring (Psuty, et al., 2010). The changes in shoreline position are generally descriptive of the seasonal contrasts (lower energetics in the summer period versus higher energetics in the winter period) that support sediment accumulation during summer and erosion during the winter. However, there are many natural variables and cultural events that affect the gains and losses of sediment and the displacements of the beach. The 1D shoreline surveys were conducted in March 2008, October 2008, and March 2009. They incorporate changes caused by a major beach nourishment project in many of the communities and a county project to place sediment dredged from Moriches Inlet along a portion of Smith Point County Park. As a result, most of the communities had a net positive shoreline displacement (mean of 3.2 m) and some of the County Park had a net positive shoreline displacement for the year. However, most of the NPS land and the State Park had a net inland displacement, -3.61 m and -14.87 m, respectively. The mean shoreline position change for the annual period, Spring 2008 to Spring 2009, for the entire island was an inland displacement, - 3.66 m.

This annual report documents the collection of shoreline position data and describes the short- term variation that has occurred during the period from Spring 2010 to Spring 2011 for the Fire Island barrier island, including elements of the Fire Island National Seashore, as called for in the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network's protocol on shoreline monitoring (Psuty, et al., 2010). The changes in shoreline position are generally descriptive of the seasonal contrasts (lower energetics in the summer period versus higher energetics in the winter period) that support sediment accumulation during summer and erosion during the winter. However, there are many natural variables and cultural events that affect the gains and losses of sediment and the displacements of the beach. The 1-D shoreline surveys were conducted in April 2010, September 2010, and May 2011. Most of the communities had a net negative shoreline displacement (mean of -13.71 m) for the year. Some of the County Park had a net annual negative shoreline displacement of -13.80 m. The NPS land had a net annual inland displacement of -12.04 m, whereas most of the State Park shifted inland -9.12 m. The mean shoreline position change for the annual period, Spring 2010 to Spring 2011, for the entire island was an inland displacement of -12.62 m.

Coastal dunes occur in almost every latitude - from tropical to polar - and have been substantially altered by human activities. Many are already severely and irreversibly degraded. Although these ecosystems have been studied for a long time (as early as 1835), there has been a strong emphasis on the mid-latitude dune systems and a lack of attention given to the tropics where, unfortunately, much of the modern exploitation and coastal development for tourism is occurring.

This book brings together coastal dune specialists from tropical and temperate latitudes, which together cover a wide set of topics, including: geomorphology, community dynamics, ecophysiology, biotic interactions and environmental problems and conservation. A major product of this book is a set of recommendations for future research, identifying relevant topics where detailed knowledge is still lacking. It also identifies management tools that will promote and maintain the rich diversity of the dune environments in the context of continuing coastal development.