Ghost Forests Along U.S. East Coast Identified as Critical Indicators of Coastal Carbon Cycle Shifts

New research shows how "ghost forests" created by rising sea levels disrupt carbon cycling by absorbing nutrients before they can reach the forest floor.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 7:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from American Chemical Society

The Eerie Transformation of the Atlantic Seaboard

The appearance of silvered, skeletal remains of once-vibrant woodlands is becoming a defining feature of the Mid-Atlantic coastline. These "ghost forests" are created when encroaching saltwater poisons salt-intolerant species, leaving behind standing dead timber that serves as a visible warning of climate change. According to Samantha Chittakone, an environmental engineering student at the University of Delaware, these landscapes are more than just a visual symptom of rising seas, they represent a fundamental shift in how coastal ecosystems function. Presented at the American Chemical Society Spring 2026 meeting, the research suggests that the transition from healthy forests to these moribund stands triggers a cascading effect on the environment's ability to process carbon and sustain life.

Stemflow as a Diagnostic Window into Forest Health

To understand the hidden biological changes occurring beneath the bark, the research team focused on stemflow, the process by which rainwater is funneled down branches and trunks toward the roots. This water acts as a concentrated delivery system for nutrients and dissolved organic carbon, essentially "injecting" life-sustaining chemicals into the soil microbiome. Professor Yu-Ping Chin explained that the color and composition of this liquid, which can range from the dark intensity of coffee to a pale tan, serves as a vital diagnostic tool. In healthy sweetgum trees, this flow is robust and nutrient-rich, but the study found that as trees succumb to saltwater intrusion, the volume and chemistry of this critical water source are radically altered.

Dead Trees Acting as Sponges for Vital Nutrients

One of the most significant findings of the study is that dead trees in ghost forests physically intercept the water that would normally reach the forest floor. Instead of acting as conduits, these skeletal remains function like sponges, absorbing the rainwater and the dissolved organic carbon it carries. This absorption effectively cuts off the supply of nutrients to the understory vegetation and soil microbes. According to the research team, this starvation of the forest floor not only impacts the health of the remaining plant life, such as mosses, but also changes the fundamental chemistry of the groundwater near the trunks, leading to pronounced differences in how the ecosy...