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Figure 2 -7: Drivers and processes that influence wetland vertical development (Source: Calhoon et al. 2009). <br />The sustainability of coastal wetlands under sea level rise will be affected by differences in the rate and magni- <br />rude of acccretion. <br />raphy— drivers that may become increasingly impor- <br />tant factors for wetland migration under sea level <br />rise. The relative role of each driver in controlling <br />the vertical development of wetlands depends varies <br />with geomorphic setting (Cahoon et al. 2009). <br />Habitat loss due to sea level rise is expected to have <br />a significant impact on nesting areas, spawning <br />grounds, migratory paths, and foraging areas for a <br />number of species (Daniels et al. 1993). Species that <br />rely primarily on habitats in low -lying areas for some <br />portion of their life history are expected to be partic- <br />ularly at risk. For example, Galbraith et al. (2002) <br />modeled the impact of sea level rise on five inter- <br />nationally important sites for shorebird migration <br />and overwintering. Although they used a conserva- <br />tive global warming estimate, the results of the study <br />suggested a significant loss of tidal flat habitat across <br />all sites. However, the magnitude of loss was depen- <br />dent on local characteristics (Galbraith et al. 2002). <br />Given the scale of habitat loss, the authors suggested <br />that major reductions of shorebirds could occur, and <br />