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North Carolinds coastal marsh habitat usually devel- <br />ops on the mainland side of barrier islands and <br />sounds, and in the lower reaches of rivers. These <br />communities are important habitat year -round for a <br />variety of rails, bitterns, and wading birds. Other <br />birds that use coastal wetlands during some stage of <br />their life cycle include the piping plover (Characlrius <br />meloclus, see Box 3 -3), Wilson's plover (Characlrius <br />wilsonia), American oystercatcher (Haematopuspalli- <br />ates), black skimmer (Rynchops niger), gull- billed tern <br />(Gelocheliclon nilotica), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leuco- <br />cephalus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrines), and <br />woodstork (Mycetria americana). Endangered or <br />threatened sea turtles and diamond - backed terrapins <br />also use these habitats for nesting. In addition, many <br />commercially important species such as young blue <br />crabs (Callinectes sapiclus), various shrimp species, <br />and southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) use <br />tidal salt marsh habitat at various stages of their life <br />(Street et al. 2005). With the rates of sea level rise <br />projected in the future, apecies associated with coast- <br />al habitats, including many species identified in the <br />NC WAP, will be threatened by direct loss of habitat <br />to sea level rise (Tables 3 -2, 3 -3, 3 -4, and 3 -5). <br />Photo: Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), www. thinkstock. com <br />74 Chapter 3: Projected Impacts of Climate Change in North Carolina <br />