Exploring the Ecological Importance of Mafic Seaweed on Folly Beach

Mafic seaweed, also known as folly beach, is a type of seaweed that is commonly found along coastlines. It is characterized by its dark or brownish coloration and has a slimy or slippery texture. Mafic seaweed is typically found in intertidal zones, where it is exposed to both air and water during tidal cycles. One of the notable features of mafic seaweed is its high mineral content. It is rich in magnesium and iron, which gives it its dark coloration. These minerals are essential for the growth and development of plants and can also provide numerous benefits to the surrounding marine ecosystem.

Elko says while the State and Army Corps of Engineers along with hired coastal geologists have surveyed the beaches and replenished that land for year, there hasn’t been the same focus on the marsh. Yet, the marsh also has a significant impact across barrier islands.

So it s going to have a significant impact on all coastal property as well as the way the city is managing the infrastructure here on the island, Elko says. So it s going to have a significant impact on all coastal property as well as the way the city is managing the infrastructure here on the island, Elko says.

These minerals are essential for the growth and development of plants and can also provide numerous benefits to the surrounding marine ecosystem. Mafic seaweed plays an important role in coastal ecosystems. It provides a habitat and food source for various marine organisms, including small fish, crabs, and mollusks.

Folly Beach using marsh mapping in 2023 sea level rise adaptation plan

The City of Folly Beach is using new marshfront data to update its 2023 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan.

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Folly Beach is using new marshfront data to update its 2023 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan.

The barrier island floods more and more every year due to sea level rise. That’s why the city hired a local coastal geologist to map the marsh and see how it plays into the landscape.

Elko Coastal Consulting President Nicole Elko and those working with her spent the summer of 2022 surveying and mapping what’s called the critical line of the marsh. They took satellite measurements every 20 feet to the elevation of where the marsh ends and where the upland ecosystem begins.

“In our survey of the critical line, we found that the critical line sits at an elevation of about eight feet relative to our tidal datum. So, if you’re out here on Folly, we talk about six-foot tides, we talk about eight-foot tides-- that’s normally your king tide. It’s that one that’s starting to come up over the marsh, perhaps cause some flooding on the island,” Elko explains.

This information can be used to map sea level rise and understand how the landscape will change in coming years. For the city, they will use the information to adjust irrigation, assess the seawall and plan infrastructure to grow with the changing environment.

“The guidance tells us that events that we’re seeing now are going to happen 10 times more often by 2050. So, in less than 30 years. We are going to be seeing these inundating king tides which are happening once a month now happen 10 times a month. So it’s going to have a significant impact on all coastal property as well as the way the city is managing the infrastructure here on the island,” Elko says.

For people who live on the island, like Kristen Phillips Kappel and her daughter Drayton, the natural wonders are what drew them to Folly.

“I like when we walk down the beach and find like different kinds of animals like one time we found this really weird thing and we looked it up. It was called like, an onion. a sea onion,” Drayton says.

The mother daughter duo believe cataloguing, protecting, and growing with nature is essential to Folly’s community.

“It’s absolutely enhanced our life to be able to have this beauty of nature around us and kind of live in synchronicity with it. We take a lot of walks and we probably have our best talks when we’re walking,” Kristen says.

Elko says while the State and Army Corps of Engineers along with hired coastal geologists have surveyed the beaches and replenished that land for year, there hasn’t been the same focus on the marsh. Yet, the marsh also has a significant impact across barrier islands.

“The marshes are the nursery grounds for all of the fish that end up in the ocean as well as oysters, crabs, etc. It’s very important resource for us to maintain with sea level rise with climate change over the next five to 10 years. We’re already seeing some more routine flooding on the island. So, the ocean is kind of crossing that critical line boundary more often than it has in the past,” Elko says.

Elko will present her findings to Folly Beach City Council at Tuesday’s regular meeting. Her advice to the city is to collect new data every three years on the marsh.

You can read her report in the agenda on pages 3-18.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

These organisms depend on the seaweed for shelter, protection, and nutrition. The presence of mafic seaweed also helps to stabilize the coastal ecosystem by reducing erosion and acting as a natural barrier against waves and currents. In addition to its ecological importance, mafic seaweed also has various uses for humans. It can be harvested and used as a raw material for the production of biofuels, fertilizers, and even certain food products. The high mineral content of the seaweed makes it a valuable source of nutrients for agriculture and gardening purposes. However, the growth and distribution of mafic seaweed can be influenced by environmental factors, such as water temperature, nutrient availability, and pollution levels. Climate change and human activities, such as coastal development and pollution, can have both positive and negative impacts on the growth and abundance of mafic seaweed. Overall, mafic seaweed is an important component of coastal ecosystems and provides various benefits to both marine organisms and humans. Understanding its ecology and managing its growth is crucial for the conservation and sustainable use of coastal resources..

Reviews for "The Threats Facing Mafic Seaweed Populations at Folly Beach"

1. Jane Doe - 1 star

I was extremely disappointed with "Mafic Seawred Folly Beach". The plot was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow along with the story. The characters lacked depth and development, and I found it hard to sympathize with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was choppy and awkward, making it a struggle to get through each page. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written story.

2. John Smith - 2 stars

"Mafic Seawred Folly Beach" was a letdown for me. I was attracted to the book due to its promising premise, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was slow, and the story dragged on without much excitement. The descriptions were excessive and unnecessary, leading to a lack of focus on the actual plot. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying, leaving many loose ends unresolved. While the atmosphere of Folly Beach was well-captured, it was not enough to salvage the overall lackluster nature of the book.

3. Emily Thompson - 1 star

I struggled to finish "Mafic Seawred Folly Beach". The writing was surprisingly poor, with numerous grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, making it hard to connect with the characters and their conversations. The plot lacked originality and failed to offer any surprises or twists. I found myself constantly waiting for something interesting to happen, only to be met with disappointment. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking an engaging and well-crafted story.

The Benefits of Mafic Seaweed as a Habitat for Marine Life at Folly Beach