TIDAL SALT MARSH
Nothing is more symbolic of the South Carolina Lowcountry than the great expanse of tidal salt marshes . Of the 8,500 acres of land mass that make up Kiawah Island , 3,750 acres are comprised of tidally influenced wetlands ( Gramling , 2012 ). This also presents the island with over 50 miles of marsh frontage , compared to the 10 miles of beach front . These ecosystems are as dynamic and diverse as they are beautiful , producing a variety of ecosystem advantages that greatly benefit human and wildlife communities ( Millennium Ecosystem Assessment , 2005 ; Barbier , 2013 ). Coastal wetlands are widely considered one of the most biologically productive ecosystems in the world . They protect the land from erosion by reducing wave action and buffering storm surges , as well as , providing abundant wildlife , recreational , and aesthetic amenities .
A biodiverse range of fish , invertebrates , reptiles , mammals , and birds call this ecosystem their home ( Sanger and Parker , 2016 ). The Kiawah Conservancy has sponsored several research projects over the past few decades to study local wildlife in the marshes . In the early 2000 ’ s , the Conservancy also sponsored research by Lisa Vandiver with SCDNR to study mink populations on Kiawah Island , finding healthy populations existing within our salt marshes in the early ( Vandiver , 2002 ). More recently , the Conservancy supported research by University of Oklahoma PhD candidate , Will Oakley , to study Kiawah ’ s wintering saltmarsh sparrows alongside Town of Kiawah Island ( TOKI ) Assistant Wildlife Biologist , Aaron Given .
Though they are one of the most productive ecosystems , coastal wetlands are also one of the most vulnerable to change and are declining globally , with future projections suggesting further decline due to sea-level rise ( Blankespoor et al ., 2014 ; Schuerch et al . 2018 ). Increases in relative sea levels can threaten wildlife by reducing suitable habitat for nesting and feeding . This is especially concerning for species of saltmarsh sparrows whose populations have steeply declined primarily due to nest flooding ( Hartley and Weldon , 2020 ). Research and monitoring efforts are essential in the development of local conservation strategies to restore , enhance , and sustain marsh habitat .
Analyzing the vegetative productivity and coverage over time provides a good indicator for tracking changes due to environmental conditions and helps to identify areas of concern in marsh habitat throughout the watershed . Changes in vegetative productivity were analyzed using collections of aerial and satellite imagery applying a vegetative index ( MSAVI ) which adjusts for soil brightness . Additionally , the unvegetated and vegetated portions of the marsh were analyzed to determine the unvegetated-vegetated ratio ( UVVR ) of defined marsh sections ( Ganju et al ., 2020 ).
Ecological Health of Kiawah Island 2022 24