FOCAL ECOSYSTEMS OF KIAWAH ISLAND
MARITIME FOREST AND SHRUB THICKET
Over the course of several millennia , barrier islands have accreted sediment seaward and created upland areas behind the dune system ( Moslow , 1980 ). This creates conditions that allow for the recruitment of terrestrial plants , which eventually transition to form mature plant communities . These communities are often referred to as maritime forests . Maritime forests on barrier islands in the Southeastern United States typically consist of several species of canopy trees , mostly oaks ( Quercus spp .), pines ( Pinus spp .), and palmetto trees ( Sabal spp .), with a variety of understory trees , shrubs , and groundcovers . Occasionally , depressions within those ecosystems form , creating brackish to freshwater wetlands . Maritime forests are often bordered by shrub thicket ecotones , which provide a transition between upland forests , beaches & dunes ( maritime shrub thickets ), and tidal salt marshes ( salt shrub thickets ). These habitats contain mature vegetation with stunted growth , with canopies containing loblolly pines ( Pinus taeda ), live oaks ( Quercus virginiana ), coastal live oaks ( Quercus geminata ), palmettos ( Sabal palmetto ), and coastal red cedars ( Juniperus virginiana var . silicicola ).
Maritime forests provide a host of ecosystem services that benefit natural processes and help protect the local community . Intact forests naturally regulate water resources by slowly introducing water to the ground and facilitate water and nutrient cycling through their natural processes . This reduces stormwater runoff from the soil surface and improves environmental quality , respectively . They effectively act as ‘ sponges ’ by holding water , treating it , and slowly releasing it into surrounding low-lying areas over time . They also influence nutrient cycling in the ecosystem through the introduction of organic matter and through the uptake of nutrients from the soil . As organic matter breaks down , nutrients are gradually introduced into the soil for plant uptake . Additionally , forests on barrier islands provide protection from severe weather events ( e . g ., hurricanes ) and aerosol salt spray , both of which can significantly affect human infrastructure and buildings . Trees , shrubs , and other vegetative growth in maritime forests are susceptible to strong winds , saltwater intrusion , periodic tidal flooding , and salt spray . Moreover , the strong root systems in these forests help to stabilize soils from washing away during heavy storms and help to retain and cleanse upland runoff before entering receiving water bodies and wetlands .
Characteristic shrub thickets composed of wax myrtle ( Morella cerifera ), yaupon holly ( Ilex vomitoria ), stunted oaks , and other woody shrub species serve as a barrier to protect interior trees and undergrowth from exposure to aerosol salt sprays and decreases erosive wave action from tidal surge . Undergrowth in the maritime forest plays an important role in reducing direct evaporation of pore water by regulating soil temperatures . This helps to retain soil moisture and leach salts that have accumulated from periodic inundation .
Over the past 50 years , suburban development has fragmented the maritime forest on Kiawah Island . However , the initial planning efforts to preserve natural habitat on the island through the development process using the Designing with Nature guidelines from the Kiawah Architectural Review Board has resulted in the creation of an intact , suburbanized maritime forest . Although this forest does not function in the same manner as it would predevelopment , the major functions of the forest are preserved through the protection of existing native vegetation and promoting the use of lush landscaping to benefit wildlife . The Kiawah Conservancy also promotes wildlife friendly landscape practices through the Naturally Kiawah Habitat Recognition Program . This voluntary program awards residential landscapes meeting specific criteria with a placard on mailbox posts . Prior assessments have shown 71 % of residential properties meet this criteria , contributing to 875 acres of additional wildlife habitat .
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