Chapter 4 Habitats
alter the overall ecology of wetlands by reproducing quickly and eating anything in sight (NCDWR 2024b) . 4.3.8.4 Climate Change Compared to Other Threats In coastal landscapes, changes caused by rising sea level are the greatest threat, but increased intensity of storms, both in rainfall and wind, are also important to other locations. Because these systems are so subject to sea level, tidal movement, water salinity, and storms, these effects of climate change are the greatest threats. Table 4.3.8-1 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats. Table 4.3.8-1 Climate change compared to other threats to freshwater herbaceous wetlands. Threat Rank Order Comments
Freshwater herbaceous marsh is likely to experience drastic changes in extent and significant movement and composition of communities because of the various aspects of climate change. Sea level rise, drought, increased storm activity, and flooding are threats to all wetlands in the coastal plains. Statewide, they are at risk from flooding, erosion and sedimentation, and hydrological changes from drought.
Climate Chang e 1
1 Wetland soil is unstable, so wetlands are often filled (i.e. depositing enough sediment in a wetland to raise the soil surface above water level) or drained (digging ditches for water to flow out of wetlands) prior to construction. Both can change plants and animals that are able to survive in the new conditions (NCDWR 2024b) . 1 Many herbaceous plants of freshwater marshes appear to need fire to maintain their populations. Lack of fire allows unnatural vegetation succession, especially invasion by woody species, in some freshwater marshes. 1 Conversion to agricultural fields or pine plantations, combined with the factors above, has likely led to the current rarity of this habitat type. 2 The disruptions created by shifting communities and catastrophic events may increase the spread of nonnative and invasive species. Early control of species that have been proven more invasive, such as Nutria and Phragmites , will be less costly and less ecologically disruptive than allowing populations to become large. 3 Alteration of flood regimes in rivers may affect these systems. Along the coast, some areas are fresh because of the dilution of sea water by river input. Increased water withdrawal or interbasin transfer may increase this problem in the future. The effects are local, affecting primarily the mouth of the altered rivers, but could be important cumulatively. Dams (Beaver or man-made) can increase flooding in an area, which may cause some trees to die, changing a forested wetland into a marsh. Filling in or
Development
Lack of Fire
Conversion
Invasive Species
Flooding Regime Alteration
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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