Overview:
Wicomico County is home to a fragile and threatened system called the hardwood swamp. Hardwood swamps are a type of wetland, responsible for acting as a sponge: soaking up storm surges and collecting pollution run-off. They are also home to more than a hundred fish, bird and plant species. The Nature Conservancy's Joe Fehrer says that hardwood swamps [contain an] unusual ecosystem feature called sweetwater. As saltwater travels upstream to this type of wetland, these rare ecosystems will transition to a more brackish and salt tolerant system, replacing many of the freshwater species. The bottomland hardwood swamp can most commonly be found north of Route 5O in Wicomico County [2].
The species of trees most commonly seen in this ecosystem would be Black Gum, Green Ash, Loblolly Pine, Bald Cypress and the Atlantic White Cedar. All of these trees have the capability of being timbered, which make them a potential money source. These trees are reliant on the water's acidity to remain in land areas.
Other species that are found in the hardwood swamps are the plethora of orchid species and moss that lives at the bottom of the hardwoods. These species serve as a source of food for the community of fauna species inhabiting the area. Fauna species that inhabit the ecosystem include waterfowl, muskrats, wading birds, commercially valuable fish and shellfish, along with thousands of aquatic species--amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, mussels, insects, snails and worms.
Sea Level Rise and Storm Surges:
Since hardwood swamps enjoy sweetwater, the introduction of a higher salinity will affect the abundance of species able to flourish. This ecosystem acts as a buffer to storms. Erosion and pollution will greatly affect the health of the ecosystem. Damage to this ecosystem can be seen as a result of climate change and its symptoms. As the sea level rises and salt water intrusion occurs this complex system will experience disturbances. The increased probability of heavier storms will also contribute to the loss of habitat in hardwood swamps.
Overview:
Wicomico County is home to a fragile and threatened system called the hardwood swamp. Hardwood swamps are a type of wetland, responsible for acting as a sponge: soaking up storm surges and collecting pollution run-off. They are also home to more than a hundred fish, bird and plant species. The Nature Conservancy's Joe Fehrer says that hardwood swamps [contain an] unusual ecosystem feature called sweetwater. As saltwater travels upstream to this type of wetland, these rare ecosystems will transition to a more brackish and salt tolerant system, replacing many of the freshwater species. The bottomland hardwood swamp can most commonly be found north of Route 5O in Wicomico County [2].
The species of trees most commonly seen in this ecosystem would be Black Gum, Green Ash, Loblolly Pine, Bald Cypress and the Atlantic White Cedar. All of these trees have the capability of being timbered, which make them a potential money source. These trees are reliant on the water's acidity to remain in land areas.
Other species that are found in the hardwood swamps are the plethora of orchid species and moss that lives at the bottom of the hardwoods. These species serve as a source of food for the community of fauna species inhabiting the area. Fauna species that inhabit the ecosystem include waterfowl, muskrats, wading birds, commercially valuable fish and shellfish, along with thousands of aquatic species--amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, mussels, insects, snails and worms.
Sea Level Rise and Storm Surges:
Since hardwood swamps enjoy sweetwater, the introduction of a higher salinity will affect the abundance of species able to flourish. This ecosystem acts as a buffer to storms. Erosion and pollution will greatly affect the health of the ecosystem. Damage to this ecosystem can be seen as a result of climate change and its symptoms. As the sea level rises and salt water intrusion occurs this complex system will experience disturbances. The increased probability of heavier storms will also contribute to the loss of habitat in hardwood swamps.
Below you'll find a document that clarifies the ways hardwood swamps can be managed in the community:
bottomland_hardwoods_management_list.pdf | |
File Size: | 105 kb |
File Type: |
Let's take a look at some species who call Wicomico's Hardwood Swamps home!
References
- “Wetlands.” Chesapeake Bay Program, www.chesapeakebay.net/issues/wetlands
- Personal communication, Joe Fehrer, Coastal and Lower Shore Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy. 4 April 2018, Furnace Town Visitor Center.