Dunes are the backbone of a barrier island, providing stability in a constantly shifting environment. While some beaches have several parallel dune ridges, Canaveral National Seashore only has one. This dune intercepts the wave action, wind abrasion, and salt spray, sheltering the plant communities which lie inland and protecting the mainland from flooding and erosion. The dune also provides valuable habitat for a number of protected species, including the southeastern beach mouse, eastern indigo snake, and gopher tortoise (More can be learned about these unique species under Animals/Mammals and Reptiles).