ECOLOGY OF BUZZARDS BAY: An Estuanne Profile 1 1 5 



Current 



Mean 

 sea 



level 



Salt marsh 



Unrestricted 



Mean sea level 



Vestigial peat — ^ 

 (Sea level rise) 



Salt marsh 



Restricted 



Mean sea level 



Vestigial peat 

 (Sea level rise) 



Embankment 



Salt marsh 



Fig. 6.10. Response of the current barrier dune marsh system to rising sea level under unrestricted and 

 restricted conditions at the marsh-upland interface. 



Fig. 6.11. A. Aerial view of dune overwash. Storms carry the barrier dune back over the marsh where they 

 eventually reestablish. B. Vestigial peat. Remains of old salt marsh protruding seaward after protective barrier 

 dune migrated landward over the marsh. Photos by D. Goehringer. 



tidal flooding begins to flood upland farther inland. 

 The result is that marsh species at the former marsh- 

 upland boundary can now colonize over previous 

 upland communities. The total effect is that the 



entire wetland system migrates inland (Fig. 6. 10), 

 and although each marsh varies, the net effect does 

 not necessitate significant wetland loss; in fact wet- 

 land expansion could occur. The most likely result 



