Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbances Modulate Plant Diversity in Coastal Dunes of the Northern Colombian Caribbean

Ojeda-Manjarrés, Liliana; Martínez, M. Luisa; Maximiliano-Cordova, Carmelo; Villa, Alejandro R.; Negritto, María A.; Pérez-Maqueo, Octavio

doi:10.3390/plants15050671

Open AccessArticle

Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbances Modulate Plant Diversity in Coastal Dunes of the Northern Colombian Caribbean

by

Liliana Ojeda-Manjarrés

^1,*

,

M. Luisa Martínez

^2,*

,

Carmelo Maximiliano-Cordova

²

,

Alejandro R. Villa

²

,

María A. Negritto

^1,*

and

Octavio Pérez-Maqueo

²

¹

Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta 470004, Colombia

²

Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa 91073, Veracruz, Mexico

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Plants 2026, 15(5), 671; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050671

Submission received: 1 January 2026 / Revised: 6 February 2026 / Accepted: 12 February 2026 / Published: 24 February 2026

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)

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Abstract

The conservation status of the Colombian Caribbean dune system was assessed considering the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors. The study took place in five locations with a gradient of human disturbance. In total, 198 plots and 22 transects were established, three transects in Gairaca and Costa Verde; four in Lipe, and six in Mendihuaca and Salguero. Environmental variables such as dune height, slope, sediment physical–chemical attributes, and anthropogenic impact were assessed in each site, while species composition, frequency, and plant cover were determined for each plot. The results show a correlation between natural and anthropogenic factors and the composition and structure of plant communities growing on the beach and coastal dunes. Human disturbances (urbanized areas, construction, burning, debris, trampling, logging, tourism, groins, sewage, roads, garbage, and sediment extraction) were particularly relevant. Plant cover and species diversity were inversely related to human impact and disturbance. Furthermore, community structure varied among sites: trees and vines were more frequent in the preserved locations, while shrubs and parasitic plants were more abundant in the disturbed sites. Management alternatives should consider the environmental factors (natural and anthropogenic) affecting vegetation to improve the conservation of plant diversity on coastal dunes along the Colombian Caribbean coast.

Keywords: coastal dunes; Colombian Caribbean; anthropogenic impact; conservation; plant biodiversity; environmental factors

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MDPI and ACS Style

Ojeda-Manjarrés, L.; Martínez, M.L.; Maximiliano-Cordova, C.; Villa, A.R.; Negritto, M.A.; Pérez-Maqueo, O. Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbances Modulate Plant Diversity in Coastal Dunes of the Northern Colombian Caribbean. Plants 2026, 15, 671. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050671

AMA Style

Ojeda-Manjarrés L, Martínez ML, Maximiliano-Cordova C, Villa AR, Negritto MA, Pérez-Maqueo O. Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbances Modulate Plant Diversity in Coastal Dunes of the Northern Colombian Caribbean. Plants. 2026; 15(5):671. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050671

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ojeda-Manjarrés, Liliana, M. Luisa Martínez, Carmelo Maximiliano-Cordova, Alejandro R. Villa, María A. Negritto, and Octavio Pérez-Maqueo. 2026. "Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbances Modulate Plant Diversity in Coastal Dunes of the Northern Colombian Caribbean" Plants 15, no. 5: 671. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050671

APA Style

Ojeda-Manjarrés, L., Martínez, M. L., Maximiliano-Cordova, C., Villa, A. R., Negritto, M. A., & Pérez-Maqueo, O. (2026). Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbances Modulate Plant Diversity in Coastal Dunes of the Northern Colombian Caribbean. Plants, 15(5), 671. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050671

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Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbances Modulate Plant Diversity in Coastal Dunes of the Northern Colombian Caribbean

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