12) On the other hand, regarding the talitrid T. brito, a widely distributed species along the European Atlantic coast that frequently coexists sympatrically with T. saltator, significant differences were detected not between the two sites but between the zones on the beach (Table 2).
This can be explained by the intertidal affinity described for this species, which is more often found close to the sea.
This distributional pattern can explain differences between beach zones in both of the sites we found, as well as the absence of artificial dune effects on this species.
13) Dune nourishment projects need to be well implemented; otherwise certain residual effects could persist through time. Even if the foredune at Leirosa had lasted throughout these years without any disruption, with the supralittoral species always present, the differences found appear to support the idea of how these impacts could be intensified the longer the sand bags are in place.
But, as occurred in 2006 at Leirosa, they can break apart and have very limited capacity to create a habitat for marine organisms.
Our results back this notion, but conclusive evidence will require more robust long-term ecological research and replication of beaches across larger geographic areas.