Skip to main content
Duke University Libraries
DukeSpace Scholarship by Duke Authors
  • Login
  • Ask
  • Menu
  • Login
  • Ask a Librarian
  • Search & Find
  • Using the Library
  • Research Support
  • Course Support
  • Libraries
  • About
View Item 
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
  • View Item
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

IMPACTS OF SEA LEVEL RISE ON RIVER HERRING SPAWNING AND NURSERY HABITAT IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Thumbnail
View / Download
752.2 Kb
Date
2009-04-24
Author
Weaver, Jennifer
Advisor
Halpin, Pat
Repository Usage Stats
359
views
787
downloads
Abstract
River herring populations have declined in abundance by 99% since the 1970s, in part because of spawning and nursery habitat loss. In Eastern North Carolina, river herring spawn in coastal streams and adjacent riparian wetlands. Juveniles remain in natal streams and adjacent estuaries until the fall, when they migrate to oceanic environments. Many of these habitats are low-lying and may be subject to increasing water levels as the sea level rises in response to climate change. This project evaluates the extent of these effects to currently identified habitat and presents a model to describe future impacts to river herring habitat in these regions as water level rises and wetlands migrate inland. Sea level rise was modeled at increments of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 meters for the Salmon Creek watershed in the Chowan River Basin. Resulting sea levels were overlaid with a GIS-based model of current river herring habitat. Future habitat quality was predicted through the application of a simple habitat model and the development of an index that evaluates the potential for riparian wetland migration. Results indicate that sea level rise has the potential to affect a significant portion of available habitat in the study area. Increases in water level are likely to result in the initial creation of habitat in the lower portion of Salmon Creek watershed; however, the suitability of these habitats for river herring spawning and juvenile development will decrease as sea level rise proceeds. Information generated using this model identifies the extent of future spawning and nursery habitat for river herring and can be used to prioritize areas important for conservation of river herring habitat in the future.
Type
Master's project
Department
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
Subject
river herring
sea level rise
Chowan River
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/1035
Citation
Weaver, Jennifer (2009). IMPACTS OF SEA LEVEL RISE ON RIVER HERRING SPAWNING AND NURSERY HABITAT IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/1035.
Collections
  • Nicholas School of the Environment
More Info
Show full item record
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Rights for Collection: Nicholas School of the Environment


Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info

Make Your Work Available Here

How to Deposit

Browse

All of DukeSpaceCommunities & CollectionsAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit DateThis CollectionAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit Date

My Account

LoginRegister

Statistics

View Usage Statistics
Duke University Libraries

Contact Us

411 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 660-5870
Perkins Library Service Desk

Digital Repositories at Duke

  • Report a problem with the repositories
  • About digital repositories at Duke
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Deaccession and DMCA Takedown Policy

TwitterFacebookYouTubeFlickrInstagramBlogs

Sign Up for Our Newsletter
  • Re-use & Attribution / Privacy
  • Harmful Language Statement
  • Support the Libraries
Duke University