Ecology
Chincoteague Refuge has several habitats ranging from the beach to the marshes.
| Beach |
|---|
| Beach plants such as the Seabeach Amaranth grow exposed to shifting sands, limited quantities of fresh water, salt water, and extreme wind and temperature. In some cases the entire community can be covered by tidal surges. The beach's primary function is to feed the hundreds of thousands of shorebirds that migrate to the area every year. The shorebirds on the beach often become the Peregrine Falcons' main source of food. |
| Freshwater Areas |
| There are freshwater wetlands on Assateague Island; although, they are brackish instead of fresh, and are normally inhabited by plants with low salt water tolerance. Some of the refuge contains manmade freshwater areas called "moist soil management units or impoundments". Fourteen of these areas cover 2,623 acres, provide submerging and emergent wetland vegetation as food for waterfowl and habitat for other water birds. |
| Shrubs |
| This area extends north and south on the barrier flats, and backdunes. The shrubs gradually merge in the east with dune grasses and on the west with marshes or forests. This is mostly inhabited by migrating and nesting songbirds, as well as migrating monarch butterflies. |
| Meritime Forest |
| The endangered Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel, white tailed deer, sika elk, and raccoons are just a few of the animals that inhabit the forest. The forest occurs in large clusters on old dunes, west of the shrub areas and impoundments. These parts of the island have been the most stable over time. |
| Dunes |
| These dunes serve as a primary line of defense against storm surges, protecting habitats of other wildlife from being lost to the salt water. The dunes function as nesting areas for the threatened piping plover and other shorebirds. The sand dunes are home to many organisms such as the ghost crab, red fox and racoons. These areas typically appear barren but this is only because many of the animals are hiding for fear of being preyed upon. |
| Salt Marshes |
| The regular flooding from the tide influences the distribution of salt marsh plants. These salt marshes can be found to the west of the barrier islands. They are home to black ducks, clapper rails, and other species. |
Read more about this topic: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Famous quotes containing the word ecology:
“... the fundamental principles of ecology govern our lives wherever we live, and ... we must wake up to this fact or be lost.”
—Karin Sheldon (b. c. 1945)