Ecology and Vulnerability

Coastal Species

Coastal fish and wildlife species are found in coastal habitats either year-round or seasonally and include groups such as birds, amphibians, reptiles, as well as migratory or marine fishes. Seasonally occuring species may migrate from as far away as arctic ecosystems (e.g. terns and other shorebirds) or pass through coastal habitats as they move from marine to freshwater habitats or vice versa as is the case for diadromous fishes such as river herring and American eels. Due to the many climate-related stressors such as sea level rise and coastal storms, the coastal zone is an area identified as being highly vulnerable to the direct and indirect impacts of climate change, thus many coastal species are at risk.