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

ABSTRACT: 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 sp

SUBMITTER: Raposa KB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12805223 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature