Climate change and ecosystems of the Mid-Atlantic Region

This paper discusses the current status of forested, wetland, freshwater an d coastal ecosystems; the combined impacts of habitat alteration, pollution and non-native invasive species on those systems; how climatic changes cou ld interact with existing stresses; potential management strategies, and cr ucial research gaps. Changes in climate and climate variability would signi ficantly affect natural ecosystems, and may pose additional threats to the already-stressed ecosystems of the Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR). Fragmentation of the MAR's forests may hinder the migration of some species. Urban devel opment and wetland losses leave the MAR's rivers and streams and near-shore areas vulnerable to damages if the frequency and intensity of storms incre ase. Inputs of sediments, nutrients and toxic chemicals to streams, lakes a nd estuaries might increase if precipitation increases. Accelerated sea-lev el rise could accelerate the loss of coastal wetlands. Estuaries are sensit ive to changes in temperature, salinity and nutrient loads, and could be ad versely affected by projected climatic changes. Populations of rare, native species could decline, while problems with non-native invasive species, su ch as kudzu and gypsy moths, might increase. The best strategies to protect ecosystems from climatic changes may be those that reduce other stresses, thus increasing resilience to a variety of stresses. Societal priorities fo r ecosystem protection need to be articulated, and research is needed into the values of ecosystems, ecosystem functioning, human impacts, long-term e cological monitoring, and management options to provide a basis for selecti ng effective measures.