Prioritizing coastal ecosystem stressors in the Northeast United States under increasing climate change

An assessment of marine, estuarine, and riverine habitat vulnerability to climate change in the Northeast U.S.

“…The coastal habitats that were identified as having the highest climate vulnerability are also those most often at risk from degradation due to coastal development. Coastal habitats are threatened by stormwater pollution, eutrophication and general water quality degradation, navigational dredging, shoreline hardening, dredging and filling for coastal development, and the spread of invasive species [ 37 , 38 , 42 , 152 , 153 ]. Climate-related impacts are likely to exacerbate historic and ongoing degradation of habitats that are already in poor condition from non-climate, anthropogenic impacts [ 4 , 40 , 41 ].…”

“…For example, Habitat Condition and Habitat Fragmentation both reflect the ability of a habitat to support a natural and fully-functioning ecological community of organisms, while Mobility/Ability to Spread or Disperse, Resilience, and Sensitivity to Changes in Abiotic Factors are attributes that measure how well a habitat may respond to changes in climate. Sensitivity and Intensity of Non-climate Stressors was included to assess the effects of a suite of anthropogenic stressors on a habitat, because such stressors have the potential to reduce the ecological function and the ability of habitats to withstand climate-related stressors [ 4 , 40 – 42 ]. This attribute includes non-climate stressors that may affect habitats in riverine (e.g., dams, water diversions), estuarine (e.g., navigational dredging, eutrophication, shoreline hardening), and marine (e.g., bottom-tending fishing gear, ocean energy development) systems.…”

“…There is a growing understanding that climate change also has affected, and will increasingly affect, riverine, estuarine, and marine habitats. The effects of climate change will exacerbate the vulnerability of species, habitats, and ecosystems that are already under stress from natural and anthropogenic stressors [ 4 , 40 – 42 ].…”

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Export After Flooding of Agricultural Land by Coastal Managed Realignment

“…Marine and terrestrial ecosystems along coastlines are increasingly impacted by anthropogenic activities. Eutrophication and climate change are currently among the most critical human stressors (Chapman 2017;Meier et al 2017;Smith et al 2017). Deleterious effects of coastal eutrophication are well documented and have been subject to considerable research and mitigation efforts for the last few decades (Paerl et al 2014;Hale et al 2016;Lefcheck et al 2017).…”

“…Deleterious effects of coastal eutrophication are well documented and have been subject to considerable research and mitigation efforts for the last few decades (Paerl et al 2014;Hale et al 2016;Lefcheck et al 2017). Conversely, climate change impacts on ecosystems at the sea-land interface by sea level rise and increasing storm intensity are relatively recent and less well-studied (IPCC 2014;Smith et al 2017;Schuerch et al 2018).…”