Final answer:
Plants like those in the Pinaceae family are effective colonizers of sand dunes due to their drought resistance, rapid growth, and wind dispersion of seeds, all of which are crucial for survival in arid environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The feature of plants such as members of the Pinaceae family and other grasses that make them effective colonizers of bare sand dunes in coastal areas and deserts include drought resistance, rapid growth, and wind dispersion of seeds. These adaptations allow them to thrive in environments with low and unpredictable precipitation. Drought resistance is a key adaptation, allowing plants to minimize water loss and to survive arid conditions. Some species, such as cacti, have developed extreme drought resistance to survive in the driest environments. Additionally, many desert plants have rapid growth cycles, producing seeds quickly when rainfall does occur, which can then remain dormant during dry periods. Wind dispersion allows seeds to be widely distributed, increasing their chances of finding suitable spots for germination. Lastly, while not mentioned as a primary feature for these particular colonizers, nitrogen fixation can also be beneficial for plants in nutrient-poor soils; it's seen with certain invasive species that have adapted to environments with increased nitrogen availability.