Beach dunes are the primary coastal defenses against storm waves. They are naturally made over many years and are far more effective that most manmade structures. In addition, dunes are home to many diverse biological ecosystems which draw the attention of many researchers and marine biologists. Dunes and the wildlife they support, however, are delicate structures. Frequent human interference has put a strain the on the wildlife and physical integrity of the dunes.
Sandy Hook, New Jersey, for example, is a popular area for research by the National Park Service, NOAA, and the students at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology. The research done by these organizations is necessary, but can still take a toll on the dune ecosystems. The endangered Piping Plover, for example, is a species of bird that only mates and nests during a specific time of the year. Human interference has been the cause of several destroyed nests in recent years. While some of these cases were blatant, the mere act of walking through dunes can allow one specimen to become attached to an unwary traveler and be transferred to another dune where it is not native; thus creating an invasive species. Ecosystems aside, constant walking on the dunes by researchers can ruin the integrity of the dune structure, which could be dangerous if large storm waves ever hit the coast.
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