Reports and Studies 2014 Review: 1975 Environment of Kiawah Report

Summary & Analysis of the 1975 Kiawah Environmental Report Page 34 DUNE AND MARSH VEGETATION Overview of 1975 Report The beach along Kiawah Island is growing in places. It is due to the natural development and stability of the vegetation in these areas. However, there are areas that are going through rapid changes that could be considered detrimental to these ecosystems. Vegetation groups change in a particular site as a result of environmental changes which may be brought about by changes in the physical and/or biotic environments. Thus, the vegetation on Kiawah is not static but is continually changing. The 1975 study examined the “mosaic “of community types, each the product of the interaction of many environmental factors that contribute to the make up of the dunes and the stability of more inland ecosystems. Nine transects were set up from the salt marsh thicket to the beach (page 36). A survey was done of the vegetation in these transects and grouped to particular plants communities present. Relationships within each transect were examined in depth as to plant types etc. Transects were set up along pond systems as well. A very extensive plant list was created of the plant communities. Flowering and fruiting times for each of the plants were listed in the inventories. A plant collection was also created as a part of the study, but the location of this collection is not known. Information on Dune and Marsh Vegetation from Other Sources In 2012 Professor J. Gramling of The Citadel completed A Vegetation Survey of Kiawah Island. That report, with information also applicable to this section, is described in the preceding section on Forest Communities. Because Kiawah Island is also surrounded to such an extent by salt marshes, we were very interested in a report in Science magazine in September 2013 titled "Can Coastal Marshes Rise Above It All?". The opening paragraph of the article was the following: "As climate change causes sea level to rise, wetland scientists are struggling to predict which salt marshes will drown—and which might climb out of danger. " The article went on to say that "Although they’re not the most glamorous biomes, the United Nations estimates that wetlands are one of the world’s most Revised: May 2014_REV 8 • 2012 Vegetation Survey Report www.wildlifeatkiawah.com/ linked/vegetation_survey_of_ kiawah_island.pdf

Reports and Studies 2014 Review: 1975 Environment of Kiawah Report | Page 34