Ecological effects of Beach Litter (BL) on Mediterranean psammophilous plants and communities

Beach litter (BL), defined as any solid, transformed material that enters the coastal environment intentionally or inadvertently from various sources, is recognised as one of the most significant pollution problems on the world's coasts, with environmental, economic, and social impacts, many of which remain poorly understood. Based on size, BL is divided into: macrolitter, considering all debris larger than 25 mm; mesolitter, considering all debris between 5 and 25 mm; and microlitter, considering all debris smaller than 5 mm. Although this component is made up of a wide variety of materials (e.g., metal, glass, and wood), plastic is the predominant component. To date, despite being an alarming concern, this environmental component of the Anthropocene, based on current knowledge, remains under-researched, especially with regard to its interaction with psammophilous plant species and communities. Only a limited number of recent studies have examined the impact of this component on sandy coastal areas, particularly regarding its effects on the dune system and its relationship with flora and plant communities. The aim of this research is to study the presence, abundance, and related ecological effects of beach litter on flora, vegetation, and psammophilous habitats in Mediterranean dune systems, considering Sardinia as a representative case study.