Figure 19.16

U.S. Geological Survey
Michael J. Osland

This figure appears in chapter 19 of the Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: The Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II report.

Where tropical and temperate ecosystems meet, warmer winter temperatures can lead to large ecological changes such as mangrove forest replacement of salt marshes along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Mangrove forests are sensitive to freezing temperatures and are expected to expand northward at the expense of salt marshes. The figure shows the relationship between temperature and the percentage area dominated by mangrove forests. Mangrove expansion would entail a grassland-to-forest conversion, which would affect fish and wildlife habitat and many societal benefits. Source: adapted from Osland et al. 2013.31446ba7-4409-483b-b467-ae773a9ba950 ©2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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This figure was created on June 09, 2017.

This figure was submitted on November 30, 2018.

References :

• Winter climate change and coastal wetland foundation species: Salt marshes vs. mangrove forests in the southeastern United States (31446ba7)

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