'Ghost forests' reveal hidden climate change impacts along the Atlantic coast

A research team from the University of Delaware is investigating how 'ghost forests' along the mid-Atlantic coast are responding to climate change. Led by undergraduate student Samantha Chittakone, the group is focusing on stemflow—the water that travels down tree trunks during rain—to uncover shifts in these fragile ecosystems.

The study centres on sweetgum trees, a common species in the region, as they react to rising sea levels. Saltwater intrusion is killing salt-intolerant trees, leaving behind skeletal 'ghost forests' that struggle to store carbon. These dying woodlands also absorb more rainfall, reducing water, nutrients, and dissolved organic carbon in the soil.

The team collected stemflow samples from healthy, stressed, and dead sweetgum trees. Their analysis revealed that stressed and dying trees release unusually high sugar concentrations in the water. This spike could disrupt nearby soil microbes, further weakening the ecosystem. Chittakone is working under the supervision of Robyn O'Halloran, Delphis Levia, and Yu-Ping Chin. Their findings aim to explain how rapid environmental changes—driven by sea level rise—are altering these coastal forests.

The research highlights how ghost forests lose their ability to retain water and nutrients as trees die. With less carbon storage and weakened soil health, these areas become more vulnerable to further sea level rise. The team's work provides critical data on how climate change is reshaping coastal ecosystems.