it ably ▁become ▁subject ▁to ▁the ▁effects ▁of ▁man - made ▁structures ▁and ▁processes . ▁Over ▁long ▁periods ▁of ▁time , ▁these ▁influ ences ▁may ▁substantial ly ▁alter ▁the ▁shape ▁of ▁the ▁coast line , ▁and ▁the ▁character ▁of ▁the ▁beach . ▁ ▁Dest ruction ▁of ▁fl ora ▁Beach front ▁fl ora ▁plays ▁a ▁major ▁role ▁in ▁stabil izing ▁the ▁for ed unes ▁and ▁prevent ing ▁beach ▁head ▁er os ion ▁and ▁in land ▁movement ▁of ▁d unes . ▁ ▁If ▁fl ora ▁with ▁network ▁root ▁systems ▁( c ree pers , ▁grass es , ▁and ▁pal ms ) ▁are ▁able ▁to ▁become ▁established , ▁they ▁provide ▁an ▁effective ▁coast al ▁defense ▁as ▁they ▁trap ▁sand ▁particles ▁and ▁rain water ▁and ▁en rich ▁the ▁surface ▁layer ▁of ▁the ▁d unes , ▁allowing ▁other ▁plant ▁species ▁to ▁become ▁established . ▁ ▁They ▁also ▁protect ▁the ▁b erm ▁from ▁er os ion ▁by ▁high ▁wind s , ▁fre ak ▁waves ▁and ▁subs iding ▁flo od w aters . ▁ ▁Over ▁long ▁periods ▁of ▁time , ▁well - st abil ized ▁for esh ore ▁areas ▁will ▁tend ▁to ▁acc re te , ▁while ▁un st abil ized ▁for es hor es ▁will ▁tend ▁to ▁er ode , ▁leading ▁to ▁substantial ▁changes ▁in ▁the ▁shape ▁of ▁the ▁coast line . ▁ ▁These ▁changes ▁usually ▁occur ▁over ▁periods ▁of ▁many ▁years . ▁Fre ak ▁wave ▁events ▁such ▁as ▁t sun ami , ▁tid al ▁waves , ▁and ▁storm ▁sur ges ▁may ▁substantial ly ▁alter ▁the ▁shape , ▁profile