Sandy littorals under threat: a comprehensive review of the impacts of climate change on plant-dominated components relevant to the Mediterranean littoral active zone

The recent review of climate change impacts on Mediterranean sandy littorals underscores a critical need for a more holistic understanding of coastal ecosystem vulnerability. While the effects of individual stressors like warming and sea-level rise on components like seagrasses are increasingly documented—as evidenced by our own exploration of trophic dynamics in Antarctic plankton food webs [Disentangling the structure of an Antarctic plankton food web in bloom and non-bloom conditions]—the cumulative and interactive effects of multiple stressors remain poorly characterized. This is particularly true for less-studied components like wrack and psammophytes, vital contributors to coastal resilience within the land-ocean transition zone (LAZ). Furthermore, the interplay between climate-induced changes and existing anthropogenic pressures, such as pollution and beach management practices, complicates the picture considerably. The Copernicus Marine data recently highlighted concerning sea surface temperature records [Copernicus Marine and Copernicus Climate Change: Daily global sea surface temperatures break records for the time of year], further emphasizing the urgency of understanding how these changes ripple through coastal ecosystems.

The authors rightly point out that past research often isolates components of the LAZ, neglecting the interconnectedness inherent in these dynamic systems. Seagrasses, for example, while receiving comparatively more attention, do not exist in a vacuum. Their health and distribution are intricately linked to the stability of foredunes, which in turn depend on the presence of wrack and psammophytes. Disruption of any one component can trigger cascading effects throughout the entire system, diminishing overall coastal resilience. Hormonal manipulation for aquaculture, while seeking solutions for food security [Hormonal manipulation for enhanced spawning in aquaculture: advances, challenges, and future horizons], must also consider the potential impacts on coastal habitats and the broader marine ecosystem—demonstrating the complexity of balancing human needs with environmental preservation. A shift towards integrated, longitudinal studies that track multiple stressors across all LAZ components is therefore essential.

This comprehensive review serves as a valuable reminder of the limitations of reductionist approaches to climate change research. The identification of critical knowledge gaps—particularly concerning synergistic and antagonistic interactions between stressors—highlights the need for sophisticated modeling efforts and field experiments capable of capturing the complexity of these ecosystems. The authors’ call for a holistic approach, encompassing both climate-related and anthropogenic stressors, resonates deeply with World Data Ocean's mission to provide calibrated, integrated data and ocean intelligence for informed decision-making. The lack of empirical data on the cumulative impacts of multiple stressors is a significant impediment to accurate prediction and effective management. Future research must prioritize the development of robust methodologies for assessing these interactions, moving beyond single-stressor experiments to embrace the reality of complex, co-occurring environmental changes.

Ultimately, this review underscores the imperative for proactive and adaptive coastal management strategies. Recognizing the vulnerability of sandy littorals to climate change demands a shift from reactive interventions to preventative measures that build resilience at the ecosystem level. The challenge lies in translating scientific findings into actionable policies that account for the intricate interplay of natural and human-induced factors. How can we best leverage integrated data ecosystems and real-time climate indicators to inform coastal management decisions and safeguard these vital ecosystems against the accelerating impacts of a changing climate?