La importancia de la primera línea de duna para el estado de conservación de los sistemas de dunas costeras (The importance of the first dune strip for the conservation state of coastal dune systems)

Most of the studies have focused their efforts on analysing the agents and factors that suppose the formation of the sedimentary coastal systems. However, there is less information about the behaviour of these systems once formed, about their erosion and sedimentation processes, and about their evolutive patterns. In places such as Balearic Islands, the erosion processes on the emerged beach can suppose negative effects for the main economic activity, based on beach and sun tourism. With this scenario, and from the results obtained through a PhD thesis, this work aims to show the importance that a first line of dune well preserved has for the conservation state of the whole dune complex. (article in Spanish) The results obtained from several field experiments show how the presence of a well-preserved foredune is a key factor as for the conservation state of the associated dune complex. Its presence, which increases the surface rugosity, supposes a decrease of the wind speed and an increase of sedimentation rates. This help to diminish the erosion patterns from the emerged beach to the innermost of the dune complex. In this sense, the information obtained will help to improve the future management plans, and keep positive sedimentary balances on the emerged beach.