Dune vegetation composition under different management strategies and human pressure along the northern Catalan coast

Mediterranean beach–dune systems are subjected to intense anthropogenic pressure and coastal erosion pro-cesses, which have promoted the implementation of sustainable management strategies aimed at restoring their natural dynamics. This study analyses the floristic composition and biodiversity of four beaches located in northeastern Catalo-nia under different dune management strategies. Vegetation surveys were conducted using 2×2 m plots distributed along sea–inland transects across front-dune, dune-ridge and back-dune sectors. The results show differences in biodiversity and species composition among beaches and sectors. The northern sector of El Cortal de la Devesa presents the highest Dex index value, whereas La Pletera shows the lowest value despite its recent ecological restoration. Artificial revegeta-tion and anthropogenic pressure appear to promote community homogenization and increase the occurrence of ruderal and invasive species.