Maritime forest explained

A maritime forest is an ocean coastal wooded habitat found on higher ground than dune areas within range of salt spray.[1] They can be found along the Atlantic and Pacific Northwest coasts of the United States.[2] [3] The maritime forests of the southeast U.S. are often laurel forests.They can also be found in areas of South-East Asia, for example Chek Jawa, a wetland reserve which also features a maritime forest as one of the independent ecosystem.

Flora

High winds, salt spray, and sandy soil provide a harsh environment for plant life. Maritime forests are composed of deciduous, coniferous, and broadleaf evergreens. Trees in maritime forests include the southern sugar maple,[4] swamp dogwood, mockernut hickory, white ash,[5] and the white poplar.[6] Many plants in the maritime forests have a natural waxy coating to protect them from the salt spray. Most of the plants found in maritime forests are evergreens and shrubs along with a low population on pitcher plants.

Fauna

Animals that live in these forests include foxes, deer, rabbits, tree frogs, raccoons, toads, silver-back gorillas, and painted buntings.

Places

Some places where maritime forests can be found are: Bald Head Island (North Carolina), Necochea (Argentina), Jekyll Island (Georgia), and on almost all barrier islands, such as the Currituck Banks Reserve[7] in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Key Word Glossary. bay link. 16 October 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20091022095230/http://www.baylink.org/fieldtrips/glossary.html. 22 October 2009.
  2. Web site: Maritime Hammock Habitats. Hill. K.. 16 July 2002. Smithsonian Marine Station. 16 October 2009. 6 October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091006011348/http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLspec/Hammock_Habitat.htm. live.
  3. Book: Olson , Donald. The Pacific Northwest Garden Tour. 23 July 2014. Timber Press . 9781604694512.
  4. Web site: Trees of the Maritime Forest (A-E). Russell. Alice B.. North Carolina State University. 16 October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100614204641/http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/maritime/Indexa_e.htm. 14 June 2010. dead.
  5. Web site: Trees of the Maritime Forest (F-J). Russell. Alice B.. North Carolina State University. 16 October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100709142720/http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/maritime/Indexf_j.htm. 9 July 2010. dead.
  6. Web site: Trees of the Maritime Forest (P-Z). Russell. Alice P.. North Carolina State University. 16 October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100723222804/http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/maritime/Indexp_t.htm. 23 July 2010. dead.
  7. Web site: Currituck Banks Reserve . 2020-10-15 . 2020-10-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201017135926/http://nccoastalreserve.net/web/crp/currituck-banks . live .
  8. Web site: US Department of Commerce. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. What is a maritime forest?. 2020-10-15. oceanservice.noaa.gov. 2020-10-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20201017083153/https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/maritime-forest.html. live.

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