Forest

FAR2

Taxonomy Machine Name
niacs_strategy_far2
Taxonomy Alias
far2

Central oak-pine forests thrive across a variety of soil moisture tolerances and is expected to find micro-habitats and refugia in order to persist in some form on the landscape, increasing its adaptive capacity.

Submitted by sdhandler on

This diverse forest community occurs over a wide range of habitats and is widespread and common throughout the interior portion of the Mid-Atlantic region. In general, areas that are north-facing, at higher elevations, or are farther north in the region are expected to undergo less change compared to forests in warmer, drier, or more southerly locations, particularly where past land use, land development, fragmentation, invasive species, or other factors have already impaired the system.

Previous human influences, including fragmentation and fire suppression, may have reduced the adaptive capacity of some tidal swamps. Increased flooding may increase pollution, runoff, and discharge from farm land and concentrated animal feed lots.

Submitted by sdhandler on

River flow and hydrology in the coastal plain have been altered by channelization, road networks, development, and a variety of land use changes, and these changes may inhibit the expansion of wetlands in response to climate changes. Increased flooding may increase pollution, runoff, and discharge from farm land and concentrated animal feed lots.

Tidal swamps are expected to respond to sea level change by changing the shape and position of wetlands and coastal habitat, depending on how changes in hydrology conform to local topography.

Submitted by sdhandler on

As tidal forests lose habitat, they may potentially replace nontidal riverine and lowland forests in areas where soils become saturated or seasonally inundated

Invasive species such as such as phragmites, burning bush, multiflora rose, wineberry, and oriental bittersweet are expected to become more problematic in tidal swamps under climate change, especially in combination with other disturbances.

Submitted by sdhandler on

There are many invasive plant species, insect pests, and forest diseases that have negative impacts on tidal swamp forests, many of which are expected to increase through the direct and indirect effects of climate change.

Many species in tidal swamps are projected to increase or remain steady under climate change, including American elm, baldcypress, water tupelo, loblolly pine, green ash, and red maple.

Submitted by sdhandler on

Multiple forest impact models tend to agree that many tidal swamp species are likely to maintain or increase in suitable habitat and biomass during the 21st century. Green ash species is threatened by Emerald Ash Borer and is expected to decline significantly from the borer during the next several decades.

Short or longterm increases in salinity may cause stress or mortality of trees in tidal swamps, depending on the tolerances of individual species to salt and inundation.

Submitted by sdhandler on

As sea level rises, increasing salinity levels may interact with other stressors, and the salt tolerance of individual trees may factor into tree response. Of the dominant species in tidal swamp, only baldcypress and green ash are resistant to salt spray.

The combined effects of sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion due to spray and storm surge are expected to cause irreversible habitat loss in tidal swamps.

Submitted by sdhandler on

Rising sea levels are increasing storm surge and flooding, and this may become an even greater problem as storms become more frequent or severe.Shifting sands may alter soil characteristics, destabilize root systems, and cause erosion. Tidal forest that undergoes salinization exceeding its tolerance may be replaced by tidal marsh. However, shorelines are expected to recede as the sea level rises, resulting in the physical loss of land and habitat for this community type.

Atlantic white-cedar is projected to decline under a range of future climates, and the loss of this keystone species may result in the total loss of cedar swamps in the coastal plain.

Submitted by sdhandler on

Atlantic white-cedar is a keystone species restricted to the coast and rapid changes in salinity and water depth may result in the total loss of cedar swamps. Deer use cedar swamps to avoid severe winter weather, so even low deer populations can be damaging.

Many species in coastal plain swamps are projected to persist under climate change, including baldcypress, green ash, pin oak, pitch pine, sweetgum, loblolly pine, red maple, and willow oak. Ash species will likely be limited by emerald ash borer.

Submitted by sdhandler on

Multiple forest impact models tend to agree that many swamp species are likely to maintain or increase in suitable habitat and biomass during the 21st century. Some species, such bald cypress and pin oak may increase under a range of potential change. Others such as green ash and sweetgum may persist under slightly warmed conditions, but are projected to increase under scenarios projecting hotter and drier conditions. All ash species are threatened by emerald ash borer.

Continuing sea-level rise is projected to permanently flood areas where elevation is close to the sea level, compounding the effects of storm surge, flooding, and salt spray.

Submitted by sdhandler on

Rising sea levels, combined with storm surge and erosion may drive the coastal zone inland, resulting in rapid changes in tree species’ habitat. Saltwater intrusion can kill Atlantic white-cedar forests and may damage other species depending on the intensity and duration. Increased flooding can increase runoff and discharge from farm land and concentrated animal feed lots, thus increasing nutrient loads.

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