Extreme temperatures cause many of this zone s inhabitants, such as Fowler s toad, the eastern hognose snake, and spider wasps to burrow during the day to reach cooler temperatures. Behind the protective foredune, winds are lighter and sand accumulation is slower, allowing trees to establish and form forests. Animal diversity i s also high, including forest songbirds, eastern box turtle and salamander. Blowouts are U-shaped areas of open, migrating sand that occur on dunes otherwise stabilized by forest vegetation. Blowout formation is closely linked with Great Lake high-water levels.
Small ponds are common between the foredune and the backdune in many dune complexes.
As a result of water level fluctuations, both the plant and animal life can change dramatically from year to year.