CED readers will note that the long term history of storm frequency is the inverse of that found at the Konza Prairie . On average between 4 and 7 of these storms produce inland overwashes of beach sands. Vegetation varies considerably in its tolerance of storm erosion, sand burial and salt water flooding. A shore parallel zonation in species composition and species richness results from these frequent disturbances. Storms and Biodiversity Coastal storms push sand and saline water across the coastal strand.
Coastal vegetation is scoured away or buried during such overwashes across the coast.
Many coastal plant species vigorously encroach seaward. The boundary between the landward pushing active sand zone and the seaward encroaching vegetation is an ecotone dynamic in time. This ecotone is easily seen on aerial photographs. At the VCR we use metric aerial photography to record the coordinates of this ecotone at 50 m intervals along the coast. Our period of photographic coverage for Hog Island, two islands south of Cedar Island, begins in 1949 and we have images every 8 years or so.