The Secret Life of Tidal Marshes and Mangroves: Camera Trapping as a Window Into Wildlife Using North American Coastal Wetlands

The crucial role of coastal wetlands supporting diverse terrestrial wildlife is often asserted but has not been demonstrated in broad-scale field evaluations; a comprehensive assessment of wildlife use of these vital ecosystems is therefore needed. Our goal was to conduct the first coordinated assessment of terrestrial wildlife across North America's vegetated coastal wetlands. We elucidated spatial patterns related to geographic and landscape differences and temporal patterns of wildlife diversity and abundance. Using camera traps deployed with a consistent methodology across 25 National Estuarine Research Reserves and 7 additional sites in North America, we documented 146 species (104 birds, 36 mammals, 6 herpetofauna) using wetlands for foraging, resting, and as nursery habitat. Most species were native, though non-native species dominated island sites. Wetlands with greater landscape heterogeneity attracted distinctive wildlife assemblages, as did wetland-upland ecotones. Many species, particularly mammals, used wetlands almost exclusively at night, and wildlife abundance was low when wetlands were flooded. Our findings demonstrate the significant role coastal wetlands play in wildlife support, a service that may decline with accelerating sea-level rise. This coordinated approach offers a model for broad-scale wildlife studies and highlights the importance of incorporating top-down perspectives and a landscape approach into coastal conservation planning.