Coastal zones are becoming increasingly topical (and politically sensitive) as they face relentless pressures from urban expansion, recreational development and sea level rise due to climatic change. This timely book provides a comprehensive introduction to the formation, dynamics, maintenance and perpetuation of coastal sand dune systems. It describes interactions between living organisms and the physical processes of geomorphology, and due to the increasingly endangered status of dunes particularly emphasizes conservation and management. Arnglobal range of examples enhance the book's international appeal. Included is coverage of the latest methods/techniques and experimental approaches with suggestions for student-based field studies and projects. This is a basic text for students in ecology and biology of coastal sand dunes. It is intended only to introduce the vast subject of sand dunes along coasts, which we depend on for energy and resources.