The Maritime Forest
Story and artwork by Jane Iwan,
inspired by a photograph of the
maritime forest by Patrick O’Brien
28
T
he ecosystem of the maritime forest is another
of nature’s marvels. It begins with the maritime
strand, which forms where ocean currents and
waves deposit sand. As these deposits grow, beach
develops above the high tide line. Then a driftline or zone of
detritus forms. The key component of this zone is cordgrass
that is washed down from nearby tidal creeks and provides a
base for plant growth.
The berm lies inland from the driftline. Only the highest
spring tides reach this level area of sand. Here is where dunes
begin to form. Sea oats are one of the most important factors
in the building of coastal dunes. Their seedlings serve as
windbreaks, causing the sand to accumulate. The sea oats
continue to grow above the rising sand, allowing dunes to
build rapidly. Once the dunes become stable, maritime shrub
thickets develop, followed by maritime forests.
The trees closest to the ocean are shaped by onshore
winds that carry salt and sand spray. This spray kills buds
on the windward side of the trees but on the leeward side
the effect is quite the opposite. Protected from the salt spray,
the lateral buds continue to grow and develop into a dense
canopy. The resulting windswept profile deflects winds up
and over the trees, providing shelter to understory plants. In
addition to protecting the understory fr