Data from: Density-dependent aggregation underlies spatial self-organization in coastal dunes

By tracking a decade of spatial dynamics in dune-grass patches and sand accumulation using high-resolution imagery and elevation time series, we discovered that patches and dune bodies coarsen through time, shifting toward larger, self-similar size distributions instead of settling on a characteristic scale or spacing.

We identified a density-growth relationship that reverses sign at a critical threshold: sand accumulation concentrates disproportionately in already-dense vegetation, so that once local density drops below this point, decline becomes self-reinforcing rather than self-correcting. Data: This dataset includes the dune grass patch polygons derived from orthorectified aerial imagery (locations and geometries), for the Ameland, Zand Motor and Texel site.