Drs. Orane Mordacq
Terrestrial Ecology Unit
Department of Biology
Ghent University
K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35
9000 Gent Belgium
E-mail: orane.mordacq@ugent.be
Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in Coastal Contexts: Impacts on Biodiversity, Habitat Evolution, and Connectivity
Coastal dunes provide essential natural protection against coastal erosion, storms, sea-level rise, and associated flood risks, helping to shield inland areas. These coastlines are also some of the most densely populated regions in the world and provide diverse recreational opportunities. However, coastal dunes are not only protective landscapes but also vital habitats for a wide range of plant and animal species. The Dune Dike-hybrid NbS, which integrates both hard and soft infrastructure (dikes and dunes), represents a promising solution that balances coastal protection, recreation, and biodiversity conservation, advancing a new generation of sustainable, inclusive, and visually appealing coastal defense systems.
During my PhD research, I will focus on evaluating the effectiveness of DD-hybrid NbS in comparison to natural dunes, with a specific emphasis on biodiversity and habitat development. My research will involve assessing biodiversity and ecological functionality across 12 European sites within the DuneFront Project. This will involve sampling plant species and cover, as well as measuring arthropod and soil diversity in each DD-hybrid NbS and comparing these data with those from natural dune systems. I will monitor shifts in species diversity and dominance through transects established within these dune sites. Additionally, I will work with aerial imagery and digital elevation models to characterise and monitor habitats, especially those within Natura 2000 sites. My work includes developing models to quantify changes in embryonic and white dunes over time, particularly focusing on focusing in particular on the swiftness of habitat changes between the natural dune and DD-hybrid NbS. Through this research, we aim is to demonstrate that DD-hybrid NbS can match the biodiversity and ecological functionality of natural dunes, providing valuable insights for coastal management and conservation strategies across Europe.