Coastal Ecosystems in Transition

Coastal Forests, Ghost Forests, and Marshes

Ecosystems in Transition

Ghost Forest

Salt Marsh

Caterpillar

Coastal Forest

Chrysalis

Butterfly

What is a

Coastal Forest?

Coastal forests are areas of forested land on the coast that are far enough inland that they are typically not affected by salt water

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Plants there do not have high tolerance for salt and rely solely on freshwater input

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Inside a Coastal Forest

What is Saltwater Intrusion?

Saltwater intrusion is the movement of saltwater into freshwater systems such as ponds, aquifers, drainage ditches, streams, and creeks

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It can be caused by flooding and, surprisingly, drought

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Saltwater Intrusion

What is

Storm Surge?

Storm surge is the name given to the massive waves that occur during a storm, caused by strong winds blowing in from the ocean

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Consequences:

• Destruction of property
• Saltwater gets trapped behind natural barriers
• Can lead to saltwater intrusion

What is Sea Level Rise?

Sea level rise describes the phenomena that happens when sea levels rise further on shore than times in the past

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Includes:

• Increased flooding
• Increased intensity of storm surges
• Can lead to saltwater intrusion
• Raised underground water table

What is a Ghost Forest?

Ghost forest are patches of coastal forests that are affected by saltwater intrusion. The large trees eventually lose their leaves and die, leaving "ghost" tree trunks behind

Inside a Ghost Forest

What is a Salt Marsh?

Salt marshes are a type of wetland found in coastal areas that is often saturated with water. It can be naturally occurring or be a created habitat

Inside a Salt Marsh

Activity Description

• Split into four groups
• Each group will receive a small section of a story told by a small child
• Group members should work together to draw their interpretation of the story
• Include wildlife, plant life, and other features of the environment you want to include!
• Groups will have 20 minutes to complete their drawing
• After 20 minutes, groups will come together and display their drawing to their peers
• Group members can describe their drawings to their peers
• We can see the whole story of Coastal Ecosystem Transition

Have fun and be creative!!

Story Introduction

• My family and I like to go to the coast and walk along our favorite trail. We like to go there because it’s far away from any houses, and we can be a part of nature!

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Part 1 - Before the Flood

• As we walked along the trail, we saw the ocean on one side and a forest with lots of animals and tall, green trees on the other side.

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Part 2 - Sea Level Rise

• The next time we went to the trail, my favorite boardwalk was closed. There was a sign that said the sand underneath the boardwalk washed away because the sea level had risen. I looked past the sign and saw waves washing across the trail into the forest.

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Part 2 - Storm Surge

• I wanted to go to the trail, but my parents told me no because there was a big storm coming. The weatherman mentioned lots of flooding from the rain and from big ocean waves. All of the wind pushed the ocean water up onto the land. I think the weatherman called this storm surge. I wondered how different my favorite trail looks during a big storm.

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Part 3 - After the Flood

• The next time we went to the trail, the tall green trees we used to see were grey and the leaves and branches were gone. There was water covering the bottom of the forest and the ground had turned muddy.

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Part 4 - Marsh

• The next time we went, there were less tall trees, and there were birds’ nests at the tops of the trees that were left. There were shrubs and grasses growing out of the mud. There were also different animals than what we used to see now calling this place home.

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Story Conclusion

• I noticed a new sign on the trail that said this area was a ghost forest that had turned into a marsh because of saltwater intrusion. The flooding had caused salt to get trapped in the soil which made it so only salt marsh plants could grow in this ecosystem. Even though my favorite trail looks different now, new life has sprouted up all around it!

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