Reports and Studies 2014 Review: 1975 Environment of Kiawah Report | Page 33
Summary & Analysis of the 1975 Kiawah Environmental Report
seeds prolifically. The tree-of-heaven population on Cougar Island should be an
eradication priority before it starts to pop-up elsewhere on Kiawah Island.
Finally tallow tree is affecting various portions of the island. Tallow tree is far
and away the most common invasive species on the island and has the potential
to permanently alter the remaining freshwater and temporary wetlands on
Kiawah. On Kiawah Island, these wet habitats are even rarer than on a typical
barrier island because of the system of ponds that sequester much of the runoff. Temporary or seasonal freshwater wetlands provide habitat for amphibians
and possibly turtles. These moist habitats provide drinking water to a variety of
animals and support a diversity of plant species when unaffected by tallow tree.
Once invaded by tallow tree these wetland ́