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 Browns Island 



Management Recommendations: 



In regards to remnant, endangered or threatened species, 

 Browns Island is not particularly notable. The only plant species 

 of concern is the rare endemic, Parietaria f loridana , which 

 occurs only in the man-made habitat ot old chimney bricks. 



Of the birds of special concern, only 4 do or may nest on 

 the island: Black Duck, Osprey, Black-throated Green Warbler, 

 and Prothonotary Warbler. Although the endemic reptiles, the 

 Carolina Salt Marsh SnaRe and Outer Banks Kingsnake , could 

 occur on the island, their presence has not been documented. 



Browns Island's strong points are as a complex natural 

 area and as a unique coastal geologic formation. There are 

 undoubtedly complex biological relationships in a variety of 

 habitats from salt marshes, to forested sand ridges, iov/ woodlands 

 and swale ponds. Although there are no unusual plant species 

 for the area, the plant communities are unique. Elements of 

 inland coastal plant communities appear to be combined with 

 maritime communities. The south ridge is a combination of a 

 longleaf pine-wiregrass community and a live oak maritime forest. 

 The north ridge (or collection of ridges) also has a vegetation 

 type that is neither typical of the mainland nor of maritime 

 communities. Species such as loblolly bay, titi, fetterbush 

 and gallberry are typical of pocosins whereas many of the species 

 are more typical of maritime forests. Also the rarity of red 

 cedar and wild olive, which are common in the Roosevelt Natural 

 Area and Emerald Isle woods on Bogue Banks is notable, even 

 though both areas are similar mesic sites. 



The unusual plant communities is a result of a unique 

 coastal geologic formation. The relict beach ridges could be 

 remnants of pleistocene barrier islands or scarps farther inland. 

 Most pleistocene relict beach ridge areas have been altered 

 considerably by man, especially the areas that now comprise 

 islands, such as Roanoke Island and Markers Island. The dynamic 

 nature of the island suggests a history of rapid geological 

 change. The recent change is towards salt marshes encroaching 

 the forested areas leaving live oak hammocks separated by 

 marsh. Fresh water swale ponds are being encroached by salt 

 water allowing the invasion of species such as Juncus roemerianus . 

 The unusual plant communities and dynamic geological nature 

 may provide clues to the geologic past of North Carolina. 



