Research: Forvie Sands

Colonization of dune hollows

Original text

As each dune advances it leaves a hollow within its U shape, eroded flat to water level. The margin at B1, (Fig: 9) at the foot of the windward dune slope will at first be devoid of vegetation. With time this is colonized by sand sedge, Marram, rushes and moss species. Further back at B2, which has been exposed for a longer period succession to a closed community occurs. Grassland, dominated by Holcus, Poa Festuca and Sand Sedge is found in hollows between very mobile dunes and Wet heath, with heather, crwberry, Erica tetralix and creeping willow being found in hollows between mature dune waves to the north. C1, C2 show the overflow zone of the next advancing dune. A reversal of succession occurs here (Fig: 10 (missing)) giving a change from heath to grasses, to Ammophila, finally to bare sand as sand 'laps' over the area. Ragwort and thistle (Fig: 9a, b) are most abundant where sand advance is shallow.