Wang, P.; Royer, E.L.; Jackson, K., and Gutierrez, S., 2024. Impacts of Hurricane Ian along the low-lying southwest Florida coast (USA) in 2022: Lessons learned. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 827–851. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in the low-lying, densely populated, and developed southwestern Florida coast on 28 September 2022 as a large and slow-moving category 4 hurricane. Various U.S. federal and state agencies collected a large and comprehensive data set, including pre- and poststorm airborne LIDAR topography, in situ water level and wave measurements at numerous locations before, during, and after the storm, and poststorm high-water marks over a large area. This study reports results from a series of poststorm field investigations including ground observations of beach-dune erosion and deposition, catastrophic damage to various infrastructure, and widespread distribution of non-biodegradable materials washed into the estuary and numerous mangrove islands. Hurricane Ian induced large-scale inundation in low-lying southwest Florida, submerging all the barrier islands bordering Charlotte Harbor estuary, all the islands within the estuary, and up to 5 km into the mainland. Dense tree-type vegetation limited the landward penetration of beach-dune erosion and overwash deposition along the barrier islands. Net sand-volume loss from the beach-dune system ranged 10–25 m³/m and was controlled by the deep submergence of the system during the peak of the storm. The extremely high storm surge of up to 5.2 m above mean sea level generated by Hurricane Ian caused severe damage to the built environments over a large area. High storm waves superimposed on the elevated water level, reaching 1.2 m at the seaward edge of vegetated dunes, contributed to the destruction along the barrier islands. Hurricane Ian distributed a tremendous amount of non-biodegradable artificial debris over a large area and into sensitive natural environments, including numerous mangrove islands, barrier-island interior wetlands, and the estuary waterbody. Measures to prevent materials such as single-use plastics, insulation fibers, and household appliances from being washed into sensitive environments should be a significant part of prestorm preparation.

Williams, H.F.L., 2024. Testing digital elevation model of difference (DoD) estimation of washover fan thickness, Matagorda Peninsula, Texas. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 852–859. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Washover fans are a fundamental component of coastal sediment budgets. While fans can be relatively easily delineated on air photos to obtain fan area, measurement of fan thickness, which is required for volume estimation, is problematic. Field surveys can be conducted, but fieldwork can be labor-intensive, costly, and time-consuming and have access problems. This study used pre- and poststorm LIDAR digital elevation models (DEMs) to create a digital elevation model of difference (DoD), which was then used to estimate the mean thicknesses of 10 Hurricane Harvey washover fans on Matagorda Peninsula, Texas. The accuracy of the LIDAR-derived fan thicknesses was assessed by comparing the LIDAR results to fan mean thicknesses based on pits excavated into fans. Seven out of 10 LIDAR-based thicknesses underestimated pit-based thicknesses, suggesting the presence of systematic bias in the LIDAR-derived DEMs. Underestimation of fan thicknesses was in the range of 36% to 56%. The source of the suspected bias is uncertain; it is possible that compaction of marsh sediments by the washover fans lowered the fans and reduced their apparent thicknesses. It is concluded that pre- and post-storm LIDAR DEMs can be used to estimate washover fan thickness, but in areas of compactible substrates, such as coastal marshes, steps should be taken to identify, evaluate, and address potential bias in the DEM data.

Belrhaba, T.; Hakkou, M.; Rey, T.; Aangri, A.; Krien, Y.; Elmostafa, Z.; Leone, F., and Benmohammadi, A., 2024. Shoreline change and climatic variability along the Moulay Bousselham coast (Moroccan Atlantic). Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 860–874. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Sandy coasts in Morocco are increasingly threatened by erosion. It is thus crucial to investigate the extent and causes of shoreline change to propose mitigation strategies to stakeholders. This study investigates the long-term shoreline dynamics of Moulay Bousselham (1949–2016) and its relationship with climate variability indices, namely the North Atlantic Oscillation, East Atlantic Oscillation, and West Europe Pressure Anomaly (WEPA). The analysis, which employs geospatial techniques and the Digital Shoreline Analysis System, reveals significant temporal and spatial variability in shoreline changes characterized by phases of erosion and accretion. The study identifies distinct periods of retreat and growth, highlighting the complex nature of coastal dynamics. The correlation analysis between wave parameters and climatic indices emphasizes the influential role of the WEPA index in controlling winter oceanic phenomena. The winter of 2013/14, marked by the highest WEPA, corresponds to the most energetic conditions in at least 70 years, underscoring the index's significance in understanding local climate variability. While acknowledging methodological challenges and uncertainties inherent in shoreline displacement calculations, the study establishes a noteworthy correlation between the WEPA index and shoreline dynamics. This research contributes valuable insights into the intricate interactions between climate variability and coastal evolution, emphasizing the need for refined methodologies and a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing shoreline changes.

Greipsson, S.; Stover, K.; Whitney, S., and McElroy, T., 2024. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil fungi associated with Uniola paniculata L. (sea oats) on restored and natural sand dunes on the Georgia Coast, U.S.A. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 875–886. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Coastal sand dunes are fragile ecosystems that serve as natural defenses to protect barrier islands and the adjacent mainland during severe storms. A high frequency of disturbances may result in dune erosion. Several strategies have been used for coastal restoration; however, previous practices often lack the connection between plants and below-ground microbial communities. Symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial in supplying a range of limiting nutrients to the host plant while improving dune stability. This study assessed the diversity of the indigenous AMF and soil fungal communities associated with Uniola paniculata L. (sea oats) on natural dunes and restored dunes at Jekyll and Tybee Islands on U.S. Georgia's coast. The phosphorus (P) concentrations of dune sand were also analyzed. At each site, samples were collected from 10 dune ridges that were randomly selected along a 100-m transect where sea oats were growing. The genomic DNA was extracted from 60 sand and sea oats root samples. A total of 13 amplicon sequence variants of AMF were identified; seven were classifiable to the species level. The most abundant genera of AMF were Glomus; the most abundant species were unclassified Glomus spp., followed by Glomus custos and G. deserticola. Using the Sorensen-Dice coefficient, the study showed that AMF assemblages of the natural dunes of both sites shared a high similarity (0.73). However, AMF assemblages of the Jekyll Island natural site had no (0) similarity to Jekyll Island restored site 1. The greatest number of classes of soil fungi were found at Jekyll Island's restored site 1 (18 classes); conversely, the lowest number was found at Jekyll Island's natural site (nine classes). Natural dunes contained significantly greater levels of P in the sand compared with restored dunes. These findings demonstrate the need to manage sand material and AMF assemblages during coastal dune restoration.

Durant, D. and Kernéïs, E., 2024. Investigating the farm resilience of polder environments after seawater flooding: Results from Storm Xynthia (2010). Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 887–900. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Climate forecasts predict that global warming will cause sea-levels to rise and will increase the frequency of storms in the future, thus also increasing the risk of submersion of coastal agricultural areas. Yet very few studies examine the consequences of seawater flooding, from either an agricultural or an environmental point of view. This study therefore investigates the resilience of coastal farming systems through the case study of the Saint Laurent de la Prée research farm hit by the Storm Xynthia in 2010. Two aspects of resilience are analysed here: (i) the soil characteristics of the system (indicators: salinity, sodicity and structural stability) after the submersion, and the system's ability to recover its productive capacity on croplands (crop yields) and on permanent grasslands (fodder production); and (ii) the ecological resilience of permanent grasslands (indicators: species richness and diversity). Results showed that the system recovered its productive capacity in 2012, so after two years, when the research farm engineers recorded a return of the crops and grasslands to a production level that they considered satisfactory. For crop soils, there was a quick recovery of salinity levels, but the structural stability after the storm was largely degraded and had not totally recovered by 2012. On grasslands, the farm suffered two successive years of low grassland productivity, partially due to a temporary shift in plant species' composition. Finally, two dimensions of resilience are discussed here: (i) the speed of recovery; and (ii) the ability to learn from the storm, in view of the increasing risks of coastal submersion in the future. As it appears that flood protection policy must consider local and long-term impacts of seawater flooding on agricultural lands, this study can provide useful information for further research on the foresight scenarios and adaptive strategies required.

Hucks, K.D. and Leberg, P.L., 2024. Evaluation of maximum entropy models for assessing coastal bird distributions under restoration scenarios. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 901–918. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Coastal systems are facing many challenges, including climate change, sea-level rise, storm surge, and erosion, all of which contribute to land loss. In Louisiana, this has led to the development of a coastal master plan supported by habitat suitability index (HSI) models to predict wildlife responses under various management scenarios. However, HSI models were not originally intended for this purpose, and their functionality at large spatial scales is unclear. The goal was to use maximum entropy modeling to predict how various bird distributions might change with coastal restoration and management and to compare those results to HSI model predictions. Using field surveys and sources of bird locations, as well as environmental projections from the Comprehensive Master Plan habitat and hydrology models, the authors predicted the probability of occurrence for each target species for current conditions and projected the distributions into the future at 25 and 50 years using sea-level rise and coastal change scenarios. Predictive models for each species under current conditions show good agreement with field observations. Future models generally show reductions in areas of potentially high habitat use, with a few notable exceptions in the Brown Pelican habitat. Both MaxEnt and HSI modeling approaches had advantages and disadvantages; neither was clearly superior for predicting wildlife habitat. Increasing the resolution and quality of environmental data used in coastal monitoring efforts, as well as additional field validation of model predictions, will improve estimates of suitable habitat, habitat use, and restoration outcomes for wildlife.

Albino-Martínez, O. and Rosales-Casián, J.A., 2024. Ecology of economically important fish at a temperate Pacific Island of Baja California, Mexico. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 919–928. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Economically important fish were caught in rocky reefs around Isla San Martin, Baja California, Mexico to determine the composition and spatio-temporal variations, their possible relationship with temperature, upwelling and depth, and the size structure of the most abundant species. Five seasonal surveys were carried out using traps and hook-and-line at four different sites from June 2021 to May 2022. A total of 595 fish individuals (417 kg) were caught, comprising of 23 species from 10 families, and the Sebastidae family contributed the largest number of 12 species. The most abundant fish species were Caulolatilus princeps, Paralabrax clathratus, Semicossyphus pulcher, Paralabrax nebulifer, Sebastes auriculatus, S. umbrosus, and S. rastrelliger that contributed 90.2% of the total abundance. C. princeps contributed 60.8% of the abundance and 60.2% of the biomass. The first three fish species were the most important in terms of relative abundance and frequency of occurrence. The catch means (abundance and biomass) per trap or angler did not change over time; however, between sites, the average fish catch per trap (abundance and biomass) was significantly different, which presented a positive and significant relationship with depth, only. The fish richness (number of species) varied between nine (fall 2021) and 14 species in spring 2021 and 2022. The highest diversity of fish species (H' = 1.9) occurred in summer (C. princeps 41.1% abundance), and the lowest diversity (H' = 1.0) during fall (C. princeps 74.1%. abundance). Among fishing sites, the greatest diversity occurred close to Isla San Martín (El Bufeo, H' = 2.1), and the lowest diversity in the deeper sites far from the island (Bajo 6, H' = 1.0). Caulolatilus princeps presented 100% frequency of occurrence, while Chromis punctipinnis, Halichoeres semicinctus, Medialuna californiensis, and Sebastes serranoides occurred with the lowest value (4.5% each).

Chellamanimegalai, P.; Deshmukhe, G.; Balange, A.K., and Layana, P., 2024. Effect of solvents on extraction efficiency and in vitro antioxidant activity of bioactive compounds from Dictyota ceylanica and Dictyota cervicornis. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 929–936. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Seaweeds can fight reactive oxygen species by producing secondary metabolites in adverse environmental conditions. In the present study, bioactive compounds, including chlorophyll a and c₁ + c₂, carotenoids, fucoxanthin, and total phenols, were extracted from Dictyota ceylanica and Dictyota cervicornis using various solvents to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant activities. Species-specific and solvent-specific differences (p < 0.05) were observed for those compounds. D. ceylanica yielded high chlorophyll a (2.083 mg/g) and carotenoids (0.672 mg/g) in acetone, whereas D. cervicornis showed a maximum of chlorophyll c₁ + c₂ (1.134 mg/g) and fucoxanthin (0.803 mg/g) in dimethyl sulfoxide. D. cervicornis was found to have a significant amount of total phenols (583.46 mg GAE/100 g), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity (39.85%), ferric reducing antioxidant power activity (472.81 mg TE/100 g), and total antioxidant activity (1037.52 mg AAE/100 g) in the water extract. The Pearson's correlation and R² value revealed that chlorophyll a, chlorophyll c₁ + c₂, carotenoids, fucoxanthin, and total phenols are highly responsible for the remarkable antioxidant activities in D. ceylanica and D. cervicornis.

Sahu, A.; Venkataramani, V.K.; Chandravanshi, S., and Chandran, S., 2024. Spatio-temporal distribution of portunid crabs within the Gulf of Mannar, southeast coast of India. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 937–951. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

To explore the variety of portunid crabs along the Gulf of Mannar coast, an intensive survey was conducted for 1 year from October 2021 to September 2022. The sampling was done biweekly, at four landing sites, i.e., Vedalai, Keelakarai, Therespuram, and Thiruchendur. The Gulf of Mannar has a rich diversity of portunid crabs, and bottom set gillnets are the primary method of capture. Twenty-seven species were recorded in the study area, representing five genera. The genus Charybdis recorded the highest number of species with 11 species, followed by the genus Portunus and the genus Thalamita with eight and four species, respectively. The genus Scylla and the genus Podophthalmus were represented by three and one species, respectively. To conduct the biodiversity assessment, the occurrence and abundance data of portunid crabs were collected for 12 months in all the selected landing centers in the Gulf of Mannar. The data collected were pooled together by month, station and season, which included summer (March-May); pre-monsoon (June-August); monsoon (September-November) and post- monsoon (December-February). From the collected occurrence and abundance data, 15 biodiversity indices were calculated using the PRIMER v7 computer software package.

Fuentes-Agueda, S.A.; Gallegos, M.E., and Mandujano, M.C., 2024. Spatial and temporal changes in the demography of Caulerpa paspaloides along a distance gradient. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 952–961. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

It has been proposed that Caulerpa species have greater abundances and growth rates near mangroves than offshore. The main purpose of this study was to observe the demographic differences in Caulerpa paspaloides in three different sites of Los Petenes, Campeche, Mexico (adjacent to the mangroves, at an intermediate distance to the mangroves and offshore). For the demographical census, the number of complete and incomplete fronds, stolons, their diameter, and dry biomass was registered in May, August, and December 2013 and February 2014 for each site. Also, 100 complete fronds in May and December were marked; they were collected in June and February based on growth data obtained through the marked fronds and calculable dry biomass population growth rate (k). Significant differences were found between the abundance of structures between sites and months. The offshore population had the biggest biomass and highest average stolon diameter, whereas the intermediate site has the highest number of complete and incomplete fronds. However, no significant differences in the number of stolons were found. The values of fitness (k) obtained from the analysis of the biomass were 2.06 in summer and 0.68 in winter adjacent to the mangroves, intermediate distance was 1.57 and 1.26, and distance to offshore was 1.56 and 0, respectively. For marked fronds, the fitness (k) was 1.78 for the first site, 1.89 at the intermediate site, and 1.67 offshore. Reduction in C. paspaloides fitness suggests that the species has seasonal growth and reproduction. Also, the most important parameters related to C. paspaloides biomass were salinity and nutrients (total phosphorus and dissolved inorganic nitrogen in column water). The greatest growth rates in biomass were observed close to the mangroves, suggesting that living close to the mangrove has positive effects on the growth of C. paspaloides.

Griggs, G., 2024. Beach nourishment: A critical look. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 962–971. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Beach nourishment has been the main strategy for responding to shoreline recession along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts for a century. During the last 100 years, $15.7 billion, primarily with federal funds through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has been spent placing 1.2 billion m³ (1.58 billion yd³) of sand on the beaches of 475 coastal communities. More than half of this has gone to the states of New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Florida. The sand volumes, extent of beach nourished, and costs have all increased over time. Despite the expenditures, the life span of individual nourished beaches has been relatively short in most cases, as evidenced by the frequent repeated replenishment of most sites. Three North Carolina beaches have had sand added more than 20 times, and one of these has been nourished 31 times. Although beach nourishment has been beneficial in terms of recreational value and coastal property protection, the short life spans and the need to continually renourish most beaches, along with the environmental impacts, land subsidence, occurrence of short-term extreme events, and an accelerating rise in sea level, provide a strong rationale for terminating federal expenditures and dependence on short-term beach nourishment and planning for the inevitable long-term necessity of moving back from the shoreline.

Johnson, M.E.; Lin, T.-Y., and Su, S.-J., 2024. Comparison of coastal geology and subtropical storms impacting Taiwan and Mexico's Baja California Sur around the Tropic of Cancer in the Pacific basin. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 972–993. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The Tropic of Cancer at 23°26′22″ arcs across the open Pacific Ocean over nearly 13,000 km between the tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula and the island of Taiwan off mainland China's coast. Major storms that affect Taiwan's east coast and Gulf of California shores on Mexico's Baja California peninsula are tropical depressions called typhoons in Asia and hurricanes in the Americas. Taiwan is in the path of typhoons that form over the equatorial Pacific to strike east Asia annually. In 2019, Super Typhoon Lekima became the third costliest storm in east Asia, affecting not only Taiwan but also east China and the Ryukyu Islands. Late in the storm season in October 2023, Hurricane Otis became the strongest disturbance on record to strike western Mexico, with winds up to 265 km/h during a Category 5 event. Despite the enormous distance separating them, the tectonically active shores of Taiwan and the Baja California peninsula share foundational bedrock geology dominated by andesite and feature similar patterns of ongoing coastal uplift. This review covers a range of analogous aspects expressed by coastal marine geology, including fossil and modern coral reefs, fossil and modern rhodolith banks, thermal activity in the form of hot springs, and progradation of fossil and modern deltas that emerge from high-elevation drainages. The population density of the Baja California peninsula and the narrow coastal plain of eastern Taiwan is low, but people and infrastructure are affected by storms of increasing intensity under global warming. The two regions represent instructive case studies related by similar geology under comparable factors of oceanic and atmospheric circulation concentrated around the Tropic of Cancer. The two regions also show enormous potential in the development of national parks and geoparks dedicated to the promotion of geoheritage for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.

Stalter, R. and Lonard, R.I., 2024. Biological flora of sand dunes on the northwest Pacific coastline of North America: Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link and Ammophila breviligulata Fernald. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 994–1000. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Ammophila arenaria, native to European coastal dunes, was initially introduced on the Pacific coast of North America in 1868, while A. breviligulata was introduced to temperate regions along the Pacific coast in 1935. Both rhizomatous taxa are often dominant on coastal foredunes. Ammophila arenaria has short, thick rhizomes, while A. breviligulata has a spreading rhizome system. Both species have been introduced for sand stabilization and shoreline protection. The primary method of reproduction for both taxa is fragmentation of rhizomes. Ammophila breviligulata aggressively competes with A. arenaria and is now dominant over A. arenaria at many sites. The introduction of A. arenaria and A. breviligulata has contributed to dense cover on foredunes and a concomitant decline of native plants and animals, especially those dependent on open sand habitats. Ammophila breviligulata successfully competes with A. arenaria, which has reduced dune heights, increasing the number of areas vulnerable to storm surges and dune erosion.