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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2688
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2688
25 Sep 2024
 | 25 Sep 2024

Biomechanical parameters of marram grass (Calamagrostis arenaria) for advanced modeling of dune vegetation

Viktoria Kosmalla, Oliver Lojek, Jana Carus, Kara Keimer, Lukas Ahrenbeck, Björn Mehrtens, David Schürenkamp, Boris Schröder, and Nils Goseberg

Abstract. This study investigates the biomechanical properties of marram grass (Calamagrostis arenaria, formerly Ammophila arenaria) over a 12-month period on the island of Spiekeroog, Germany, to enhance the modeling of coastal dune dynamics. The research reveals significant seasonal variations in the stiffness and Young's modulus of the vegetation, with higher values observed in winter, crucial for understanding dune erosion processes, and increased flexibility and density in summer, which are important for dune accretion. The findings emphasize the importance of incorporating seasonally adjusted parameters into models, particularly accounting for the increased horizontal density, the presence of flower stems in summer, and the longer leaf lengths in winter. The study also highlights the differentiation among plant parts, with flower stems providing the highest structural support due to their greater stiffness, while leaves contribute more to flexibility and dynamic responses. Interestingly, the minimal differences between green and brown leaves suggest that these can be treated similarly in modeling efforts, allowing for a simplified representation without compromising accuracy. Additionally, the study found no consistent evidence that wind exposure significantly affects the biomechanical properties of marram grass, suggesting that wind influence may not need to be factored into biomechanical models. The results also demonstrate that the biomechanical properties of marram grass are broadly transferable between fixed and dynamic dune systems, supporting the application of these findings across various coastal environments. The key outcome of this research is the detailed compilation of the biomechanical traits of marram grass's aboveground vegetation, reflecting the seasonal dynamics found in dune processes, which will serve as a valuable resource for future modeling efforts of dune vegetation and their surrogates.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

04 Sep 2025
| Highlight paper
Biomechanical parameters of marram grass (Calamagrostis arenaria) for advanced modeling of dune vegetation
Viktoria Kosmalla, Oliver Lojek, Jana Carus, Kara Keimer, Lukas Ahrenbeck, Björn Mehrtens, David Schürenkamp, Boris Schröder, and Nils Goseberg
Earth Surf. Dynam., 13, 791–825, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-791-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-791-2025, 2025
Short summary Editor
Viktoria Kosmalla, Oliver Lojek, Jana Carus, Kara Keimer, Lukas Ahrenbeck, Björn Mehrtens, David Schürenkamp, Boris Schröder, and Nils Goseberg

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2688', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Nov 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Viktoria Kosmalla, 05 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2688', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Feb 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Viktoria Kosmalla, 05 Mar 2025
  • EC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2688', Andreas Baas, 05 Mar 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2688', Anonymous Referee #1, 29 Nov 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Viktoria Kosmalla, 05 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2688', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Feb 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Viktoria Kosmalla, 05 Mar 2025
  • EC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2688', Andreas Baas, 05 Mar 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Viktoria Kosmalla on behalf of the Authors (11 Mar 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (14 Mar 2025) by Andreas Baas
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (06 Apr 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (29 Apr 2025) by Andreas Baas
AR by Viktoria Kosmalla on behalf of the Authors (08 May 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (20 May 2025) by Andreas Baas
ED: Publish as is (20 May 2025) by Wolfgang Schwanghart (Editor)
AR by Viktoria Kosmalla on behalf of the Authors (28 May 2025)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

04 Sep 2025
| Highlight paper
Biomechanical parameters of marram grass (Calamagrostis arenaria) for advanced modeling of dune vegetation
Viktoria Kosmalla, Oliver Lojek, Jana Carus, Kara Keimer, Lukas Ahrenbeck, Björn Mehrtens, David Schürenkamp, Boris Schröder, and Nils Goseberg
Earth Surf. Dynam., 13, 791–825, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-791-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-791-2025, 2025
Short summary Editor
Viktoria Kosmalla, Oliver Lojek, Jana Carus, Kara Keimer, Lukas Ahrenbeck, Björn Mehrtens, David Schürenkamp, Boris Schröder, and Nils Goseberg

Data sets

Geometric and mechanical properties dataset of marram grass (Calamagrostis arenaria, formerly Ammophila arenaria) across dune habitats on Spiekeroog Island (December 2021 - December 2022) : Exploring seasonal and site-specific variability in marram grass' geometric and mechanical traits through field investigations and bending tests V. Kosmalla, K. Keimer, L. Ahrenbeck, B. Mehrtens, O. Lojtek, D. Schürenkamp, and N. Goseberg https://doi.org/10.24355/dbbs.084-202404230724-0

Viktoria Kosmalla, Oliver Lojek, Jana Carus, Kara Keimer, Lukas Ahrenbeck, Björn Mehrtens, David Schürenkamp, Boris Schröder, and Nils Goseberg

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Short summary
This study analysed seasonal biomechanical traits of marram grass at two coastal dune sites using monthly field and lab data acquired 2022. Differences in density, leaf length, and flower stems were observed, which are unaffected by wind and deemed transferable. These findings enable surrogate model development for numerical and physical experiments alike, where live vegetation is impractical. Results address the knowledge gap how dune stability and erosion resistance are affected by vegetation.
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