{"id":82,"date":"2020-11-18T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.georgiaclimateproject.org\/portal\/?p=82"},"modified":"2022-07-01T10:42:39","modified_gmt":"2022-07-01T14:42:39","slug":"ecosystems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.georgiaclimateproject.org\/portal\/ecosystems\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecosystems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Georgia\u2019s ecosystems are diverse and special<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coastal salt marsh, Georgia\u2019s ecosystems are extraordinary in their diversity and ecological value. Georgia is the 6th most biodiverse state in the country [1], and is home to species that are found nowhere else in the world. Georgia\u2019s ecosystems also provide numerous benefits to people: forested areas collect and filter rainwater and ensure a consistent supply of clean water to our rivers and reservoirs; coastal saltmarshes and dunes offer protection from storm surges and coastal flooding; estuaries, rivers, and forests provide opportunities for fishing, floating, hiking, and hunting. These ecosystems also offer valuable climate benefits–Georgia\u2019s forests, soils, and saltmarshes have the potential to store significant amounts of excess carbon and help slow climate change [5]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate change will squeeze habitats and shift species<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising temperatures and variable rainfall are two key factors that will impact ecosystems across the state. Georgia has already experienced longer and more frequent heatwaves and greater variability in the timing and quantity of precipitation [6]. In streams, wetlands, and swamps, warming temperatures reduce oxygen availability for aquatic organisms, and drought worsens this challenge. In Georgia\u2019s forests, stress from prolonged drought can kill or stress trees, making them vulnerable to insect outbreaks and fires [7].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to warming temperatures, some species will shift their distributions to track favorable conditions. The different land types and climate across Georgia\u2019s five distinct \u201cecoregions\u201d may set boundaries on how far north or how much higher in elevation ecological communities can move in response to climate change. Successful range shifts will require favorable soils, water and nutrient availability, and ecological interactions to promote species establishment and persistence. Because species differ in their ability to disperse and thrive in new areas, the future composition of Georgia\u2019s ecosystems is difficult to predict. Georgia\u2019s State Wildlife Action Plan identifies several species that may become extinct in Georgia, or which will require active relocation to refuge sites [4].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenges posed by warming and drought interact with other stressors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warming and drought interact with other stressors such as invasive species, urban expansion, pollutant runoff, and reduced fire frequency that already pose significant risks to the health of Georgia\u2019s ecosystems [4]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n