Ghost forests, characterized by dead tree trunks stripped of bark, are emerging along the Chesapeake Bay and other coastal areas due to rising salinity and sea levels. These dead forests indicate a shift from coastal trees, such as cedar and pine, to marshland which offers various ecosystem services, including storm buffering and carbon storage. Researchers, like Keryn Gedan, are investigating the implications of this shift, which can either foster vital marsh ecosystems or lead to barren land, impacting coastal ecology overall.
The transition from living forest to marsh isn't necessarily a tragedy; marshes also play important roles in coastal ecosystems.
Ghost forests are appearing along the Chesapeake Bay due to increasing salinity and rising sea levels, marking a significant ecological shift.
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