SHRUB THICKETS
Shrub thickets are densely vegetated habitat transition areas or zones dominated by shrubs and trees , commonly found in three distinct areas on Kiawah . They are on the seaward side of the Island between the dunes and maritime forest ( Maritime Shrub Thicket ), and on the inland side between tidal salt marshes and the maritime forest ( Salt Shrub Thicket ), and on hummock islands within the marsh ( SCDNR , 2005 ). The characteristic plant species within these habitats are sea ox-eye daisy , marsh elder , and groundsel tree . They also contain mature vegetation , such as loblolly pines , coastal live oaks , palmettos , and coastal red cedars . Salt shrub thickets are occasionally flooded during king tide and severe weather events ( SCDNR , 2005 ; Gramling , 2012 ). These areas contain important plant species that not only protect the maritime forests and other inland habitats but also provide shelter , food , and nesting areas for Kiawah ’ s wildlife including bobcats , deer , and birds .
As early as 1974 , research on avian wildlife has been conducted across Kiawah Island . Since 2009 , there has been an extensive effort by TOKI ’ s Assistant Wildlife Biologist , Aaron Given , to monitor bird species in the shrub thickets found on Captain Sam ’ s Spit and Little Bear Island ( Given , 2020 ). Overall , the Kiawah Island Banding Stations showed an increase in activity this year compared to previous years with 8,664 birds banded and 2,229 recaptured . The report states an increase in capture rate ( birds per 100 net hours ) at both stations increased from previous years , with an above average rate at Captain Sam ’ s Spit and below average rate at Little Bear Island . The number of bird species captured this year (= 100 ) is above average from the previous seven years ( Given , 2022 ).
Decades of bobcat research and monitoring have also noted shrub thickets as preferred habitats for our resident bobcats ( Roberts , 2007 ; Jordan , 2014 ). In 2020 , toxicological studies revealed that exposure to second-generation anticoagulant ( SGA ) rodenticides were severely impacting bobcat populations on the island . This sparked the Bobcat Guardian Program and a multiyear study through Clemson University . Bobcat populations were predicted to be as low as 10 individuals on the island at the time . This also coincided with a steep rise in the deer population , which led to culling efforts in the past few years . Since then , predicted bobcat populations have increased to 25-30 due to denning success and decreased use in SGA rodenticides . Research on the island ’ s bobcats through the work of Meghan Keating is still ongoing , and will provide additional information about their populations and exposure to pesticides .
Ecological Health of Kiawah Island 2022 34