COASTAL HAZARDS @ VIRGINIA TECH
Investigation of the Effects of Sea Level Rise on Sea Turtle, Shorebird, Seabird, & Beach Mouse Nesting Distributions within the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative Region
PI: Betsy Von Holle
Co-PIs: John Weishampel, Kaveh Madani, Jennifer Irish, Scott Hagen, & 10 others
Co-PIs: John Weishampel, Kaveh Madani, Jennifer Irish, Scott Hagen, & 10 others
Funded by the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative
Sea level rise (SLR) and disturbances from increased storm activity are expected to diminish coastal habitats available for sea turtle, seabird, shorebird, and beach mouse nesting by removing habitat as well as inundating nests during critical incubation periods. The goal of our research is to evaluate past nesting patterns of fourteen coastal nesting species and predict future effects of sea level rise on nesting beaches along the South Atlantic Bight. Maps of coastal vulnerability to SLR combined with historical data sets of long-term and spatially extensive nesting habitat lead to models that enhance our understanding of the complex environmental changes occurring from global climate change and their effects on globally imperiled species. The results from this study will equip policy makers and natural area managers with the ability to prioritize
those areas which will need the greatest conservation intervention. [text modified from SALCC summary]
those areas which will need the greatest conservation intervention. [text modified from SALCC summary]
Acknowledgements & Credits: This material is based upon work supported by the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding sponsor. Background photo courtesy of Sadatsugu Tomizawa (Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
© 2016 Jennifer L. Irish & Robert Weiss. All Rights Reserved.