ABSTRACT
The threatened status of sandy beaches has not stimulated their biodiversity conservation. Infact increasing human pressure caused by overuse and unreliable management actions threats from inconspicuous invertebrates to charismatic vertebrates worldwide. Time and funding for complex assessments are often limited for mostly academic researchers, thus, efficient cost-benefit management and conservation actions are urgent needs. Conservation shortcuts are surrogates used to represent other co-occurring species or environmental aspects, being frequently applied as low-cost tools in ecological assessments targeting conservation outcomes. This chapter conceptualizes the most common conservation shortcuts and their value for optimizing management, monitoring and conservation of sandy beaches. Feasible sampling is decisive for selecting conservation shortcuts, thus practicable tools for simple and effective ecological assessments based on focal species or assemblages are presented. Further the potential of beach species as bioindicators, biomonitors, umbrellas, keystones and flagships are depicted. In as much conservation depends on social engagement, marketing, environmental education and scientific outreach, it could rely on conservation shortcuts to raise environmental awareness and engagement of public targeting the protection of biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem services on sandy beaches.
