The sandbars’ sediment/ vegetation
analysis of recent morphological sur-
to some extent, its “lagoon” character of
abnormalities and the simultaneous oc-
veys carried out on the Delta coastlines
the sea facing side, possibly connected
currence of positive dynamics cause
(Regione del Veneto 2009), one can see
to the inner most position compared to
large differences to arise, so much so
how the sandbars require, as a guideline,
the preexisting “Scanno del Palo”, and
that, as a result of several factors, one
a depth of about 300-350 m in order to
of an offshore protective reef running
can currently see heterogeneous sectors.
have stable structures hosting adequate
parallel to the coastline. One of the ef-
These include: the different sediment
ecological successions. Due to the sand-
fects of this was seen in unusual autumn
characteristics due, in different stretch-
bar’s limited depth, together with the
populations of Spartina juncea (Figure
es, to prior ebb flow; the quotas, profiles
sedimentological
morphological
2a, left) in the zone that tides and waves
and depth of the fills realized; the conse-
abnormalities, affects the possible de-
usually reach, having a visible stabilizing
quent diversity in spontaneously estab-
velopment towards the inside of typi-
effect on the sands.
lished vegetation structure; the locations
cal coastal ecological successions and
of marine weather and tidal events; quo-
hence the formation of mature stabilized
The zone corresponding to the em-
tas and locations of ebb flow in progress;
dune habitats. Along the natural sandy
bryonic dunes on the sandbar only shows
different sediment redistribution due to
coastlines, proceeding from the sea and
initial formations, with spread out Cakile
spontaneously arising dynamics; the re-
moving inland, one finds a typical series
maritima populations accompanied to
cent re-modeling, protection and system
of increasingly mature habitat groups,
the south-west by more strips of Sparti-
interventions; the effects caused by the
from the shoreline to the embryonic
na juncea, sparse Agropyron junceum (=
adjacent shore.
dunes and the first real groups of dunes,
Elymus farctus) and halophilic species,
and
to those situated in the internal areas
with Inula chrithmoides being particu-
The features mentioned above are
that are stabilized and interspersed with
larly frequent. In the zone correspond-
also behind specific critical issues re-
fairly wet lowlands. This succession can
ing to the first barrier of dunes, there is
garding the wildlife. The large surface
be seen in a very partial and abnormal
an absence of spontaneous formation,
areas of artificial origin are a favorite
way in the Scardovari sandbar, there are
seeing as the dunes are not the result of
nesting place for Yellow-legged Gulls
however some valuable peculiarities, and
morphogenetic processes caused by the
that have colonized the areas to such
good possibilities of intervening to steer
progressive deposition of classed sands,
an extent that they have had a serious
the processes toward natural, conform-
but of the artificial accumulations of het-
impact on other birdlife not only by ex-
ing structures.
erogeneous sediment (Figure 2b, right),
cluding them, but by preying on other
on which only recently remodeling and
species’ chicks; while at the same time,
In short, proceeding from the sea
the insularity prevents colonization by
and moving inland, the habitat succes-
the native herpetofauna and teriofauna.
sion has the following characteristics as
In this regard it is worth noting, by way of
well as abnormalities and peculiarities.
Hence the abnormalities in the quo-
comparison, what happens in the nearby
The strip of shoreline highlights a major
tas, dynamics and vegetation: there is
sandbar to the south-west, which is char-
importance owed to the large quantity
an absence of the more typical first bar-
acterized by significant active embryonic
of beached logs aligning the sea level
rier dune species, including Ammophila
dune systems: these favor an important
reached by the winter storms (Figure 2a):
arenaria (= A. littoralis) and Calystegia
presence of friar that, due to the fact
exactly the same situation as that which
soldanella, while the environment is now
that there is a high number of couples,
occurred on beaches in ancient times,
dominated by the under developed pres-
enables them to protect themselves and
and which today has been almost com-
ence of Cakile associated with Cheno-
the colony from the Gulls.
pletely lost as a result of beach “clean-
podiaceae ruderal nitriphilous (Atriplex
ing”, an activity which creates specific
tatarica above all) populating the area in
An important specific aspect that is
habitats and has important functions
covering strips. The formation of a habi-
common to the Delta sandbars is the lack
involving sand appropriation and reten-
tat similar to that of the first barrier of
of depth that is at times almost visible
tion. A specificity that differentiates this
dunes is achievable however, as clearly
on the sea and lagoon sides, as is clearly
sandbar from the other Delta sandbars
shown by the recent results of some
visible in figure 4. From a preliminary
and that characterizes the shoreline is
planting of Ammophila that were able to
63
naturalization interventions have been carried out.