COASTAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS & GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE: POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON U.S. RESOURCES

This report discusses the impacts of global climate change on coastal and marine ecosystems. Primary conclusions of the report are as follows: 1) Temperature changes in coastal and marine ecosystems will influence organism metabolism and alter ecological processes such as productivity and species interactions. 2) Changes in precipitation and sea-level rise will have far-reaching consequences for the water balance of coastal ecosystems. 3) Climate change is likely to alter patterns of wind and water circulation in the ocean environment. 4) Critical coastal ecosystems such as wetlands, estuaries, and coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to climate change.