Sand Beach & Open Dunes. This is a highly dynamic natural community based on sand. The movement of sand ranges from free-blowing sand to sands that have become stabilized by plants. Despite strong wind, blowing sand, waves and severe extremes of drought and flooding, many plant species have specialized adaptation to these conditions.
Sea rocket and clumps of marram grass tend to be the first plants to colonize sand beach areas. They are often followed by beach pea, bearberry, Lake Huron tansy, hoary puccoon, Pitcher's thistle, among other plants. As these early colonizing grasses develop and begin to hold more sand on dune ridges, woody plants such as white pine trees can grow.
Despite inhospitably hot, cold, dry, wet and windy conditions, insects such as tiger beetles, ants and butterflies inhabit this area. Several kinds of shorebirds nest along the beach or in the dunes.