Window of opportunity of Liparis loeselii populations during vegetation succession on the Wadden Sea islands

Liparis loeselii, a rare orchid found in dune slacks of the Wadden Sea islands, thrives under specific hydrological and soil conditions. The study reveals that its window for colonization is narrow, lasting approximately 20 years under favorable management. Large populations are associated with young dune slacks influenced by anoxic calcareous groundwater, which maintains high soil pH levels critical for the orchid's survival. Hydrological modeling indicates that sea level rise threatens these freshwater lenses, but artificial sand nourishment could mitigate this effect. The study highlights the vulnerability of small-scale hydrological systems to environmental changes and underscores the importance of continuous slack formation in sustaining populations, as seen in Texel's Hors area.

Grootjans, A., Shahrudin, R., van de Craats, A., Kooijman, A., Oostermeijer, G., Petersen, J., Amatirsat, D., Bland, C., & Stuyfzand, P. (2016). Window of opportunity of Liparis loeselii populations during vegetation succession on the Wadden Sea islands. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 21(5), 631–641. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-016-0448-6