Long-term changes of coastal foredunes in the Southwest Atlantic

Remote sensing techniques and fixed-site observations were used to evaluate vegetation, habitat and physiographic characteristics of coastal foredunes in southern Brazil during the last 50 years. The results demonstrated a gr adual increase of edaphic stability and biological diversity in foredunes d uring several decades, followed by a rapid and profound attenuation of thes e attributes. The changes in regional hydrology, as a result of long-term a nd large-scale impoundment and more recent and localized drainage activitie s, are appointed as the major cause for foredune modifications in this part of the southwestern Atlantic.