ReSurveyDunes — a data resource of resurveyed coastal dune vegetation plots in Italy
Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Letizia Di Biase, Simona Sarmati, Emilia Allevato, Claudia Angiolini, Simonetta Bagella, Giuseppe Bazan, Andrea Bertacchi, Lisa Brancaleoni, Gabriella Buffa, Mariasole Calbi, Maria Carmela Caria, Daniela Ciccarelli, Maurizio Cutini, Maria Carla de Francesco, Antonino De Natale, Edy Fantinato, Tiberio Fiaschi, Carmen Gangale, Renato Gerdol, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Valentina Lucia Astrid Laface, Simona Maccherini, Antonio Morabito, Michele Mugnai, Carmelo María Musarella, Emilia Pafumi, Annalisa Santangelo, Saverio Sciandrello, Eugenia Siccardi, Giovanni Spampinato, Angela Stanisci, Sandro Strumia, Daniele Viciani, Silvia Del Vecchio
Abstract
We present ReSurveyDunes — the first database of Italian coastal dune vegetation plots, developed through a collaborative network of Italian vegetation scientists. This paper describes the scope of the initiative, provides an overview of the available data, and highlights its key features, research applications, and future potential. ReSurveyDunes currently comprises 972 vegetation plots distributed across 11 Italian regions (Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Molise, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, and Veneto). The original plots were surveyed between 1974 and 2009, with a primary focus on herbaceous psammophilous coastal zonation (habitats 1210, 2110, 2120, 2130*, 2210, 2230, and 2240, as defined by the 92/43/EEC Habitats Directive). Resurveys were conducted in 2023 and 2024. Each plot dataset includes (i) a complete list of vascular plant species with cover estimates; (ii) geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude); (iii) sampling dates; and (iv) plot size. Designed to analyze fine-scale temporal trends in Italian coastal vegetation, ReSurveyDunes is a versatile tool for diverse ecological studies. It represents a valuable resource for evidence-based decision-making, enabling targeted conservation and management actions informed by up-to-date ecological data.