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<p>Wetlands hold tremendous value to humans and wildlife, economically, ecologically, culturally and recreationally. In North Carolina (southeast USA), the majority of the state’s wetlands are located in the eastern third of the state, in the Coastal Plain ecoregion, where freshwater wetlands face challenges with sea levels rising, saltwater intrusion, and more frequent hurricane storm surges. To assess vegetative trends in these wetlands, we collected and analyzed historical and resample data from 78 wetlands across the Outer Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Additional water and soil samples were collected to detect the presence of saltwater. Overall, study wetlands increased in non-native species and cover by brackish-tolerant and herbaceous species, while losing woody species cover. More than 50% of the wetlands showed higher proportions of salt-tolerant plant species. In forested wetlands, 28% of sites lost &gt; 50% cover by tree species between surveys and 13% of wetlands shifted enough to be reclassified as a new type (e.g., a forested wetland converted to marsh). Our results suggest that saltwater is driving these changes. Of the 31 sites with samples, 68% were deemed affected by saltwater based on chloride concentrations exceeding 100&#xa0;mg/L. Increases in soil sodium were correlated with greater changes in plant communities; monitoring vulnerable wetlands for changes in soil sodium could provide early warning of impending shifts. The overall decline in tree cover and shifts from forested to non-forested communities suggest that many coastal wetlands are increasingly unable to maintain their habitat provision due to salinity stress.</p>

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Spatially and Temporally Robust Datasets From Coastal Forested Wetlands Show Loss of Tree Canopy Species and Increase in Salt-tolerant Species

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月12日

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  • Kristie Gianopulos

摘要

Wetlands hold tremendous value to humans and wildlife, economically, ecologically, culturally and recreationally. In North Carolina (southeast USA), the majority of the state’s wetlands are located in the eastern third of the state, in the Coastal Plain ecoregion, where freshwater wetlands face challenges with sea levels rising, saltwater intrusion, and more frequent hurricane storm surges. To assess vegetative trends in these wetlands, we collected and analyzed historical and resample data from 78 wetlands across the Outer Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Additional water and soil samples were collected to detect the presence of saltwater. Overall, study wetlands increased in non-native species and cover by brackish-tolerant and herbaceous species, while losing woody species cover. More than 50% of the wetlands showed higher proportions of salt-tolerant plant species. In forested wetlands, 28% of sites lost > 50% cover by tree species between surveys and 13% of wetlands shifted enough to be reclassified as a new type (e.g., a forested wetland converted to marsh). Our results suggest that saltwater is driving these changes. Of the 31 sites with samples, 68% were deemed affected by saltwater based on chloride concentrations exceeding 100 mg/L. Increases in soil sodium were correlated with greater changes in plant communities; monitoring vulnerable wetlands for changes in soil sodium could provide early warning of impending shifts. The overall decline in tree cover and shifts from forested to non-forested communities suggest that many coastal wetlands are increasingly unable to maintain their habitat provision due to salinity stress.