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Loyola Dunes Restoration Ecology Survey

This study by Mel Dunne and Amber Vignieri focuses on tracking dunes' vegetation cover and the threats posed by human activities. The research methodology involves dividing the dunes into sections, marking GPS spots, and using PVC squares to measure plant coverage for various species. The larger percentages of coverage require further analysis to understand why they may be sporadic and how environmental factors influence plant successions. By ensuring secondary succession strategies are successful, this survey aims to aid in the sustainable restoration of dune ecosystems.

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Loyola Dunes Restoration Ecology Survey

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  1. Loyola Dunes Restoration Ecology Survey • By: Mel Dunne and Amber Vignieri

  2. Helpful Definitions • Primary Succession: occurring in an environment in which new substrate, devoid of vegetation and usually lacking soil is deposited • Secondary Succession: occurs on substrate that previously supported vegetation before an disturbance destroyed the plant life.

  3. More Helpful Definitions • Native Species: species that normally lives and thrives in a particular ecosystem • invasive species:  introduced species that adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally, and/or ecologically.

  4. Purpose • Tracking the progression of cover over the dunes • Human foot traffic and other destructive practices threaten the developing ground cover • To measure the amount of land covered by various plant species in numerous areas of the site

  5. Method • Divide Dunes into 3 sections • Choose 3 spots within section (use GPS) • Haphazardly toss 1 m2 PVC square 5 times from each spot • Photograph each time square lands • Calculate percent coverage

  6. 3 2 1

  7. Waypoint coordinates dividing areas 2 and 3Waypoint 020N 42 00.396 W 087 39.434Waypoint 023N 42 00.422W 087 39.373

  8. SPOT #1: N 42 00.389 W87 39.421 (Waypoint 021)

  9. SPOT #1: N 42 00.389 W87 39.421 (Waypoint 021)

  10. SPOT #1: N 42 00.389 W87 39.421 (Waypoint 021)

  11. SPOT #1: N 42 00.389 W87 39.421 (Waypoint 021)

  12. SPOT #1: N 42 00.389 W87 39.421 (Waypoint 021)

  13. Spot # 2: N 42 00.401 W 087 39.402 (Waypoint 024)

  14. Spot # 2: N 42 00.401 W 087 39.402 (Waypoint 024)

  15. Spot # 2: N 42 00.401 W 087 39.402 (Waypoint 024)

  16. Spot # 2: N 42 00.401 W 087 39.402 (Waypoint 024)

  17. Spot # 2: N 42 00.401 W 087 39.402 (Waypoint 024)

  18. Spot #3: N 42 00.410 W 087 39.386 (Waypoint 026)

  19. Spot #3: N 42 00.410 W 087 39.386 (Waypoint 026)

  20. Spot #3: N 42 00.410 W 087 39.386 (Waypoint 026)

  21. Spot #3: N 42 00.410 W 087 39.386 (Waypoint 026)

  22. Spot #3: N 42 00.410 W 087 39.386 (Waypoint 026)

  23. Larger Percentages

  24. Further Analysis • Why might the percentages be sporadic? • What environmental factors might play a role in cover degradation or success? • How can we ensure secondary succession to be...a success...? (Yea, we went there...)

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