Habitats

Habitat Overview

In broad terms, habitat is defined as a space that provides living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) resources needed by a species to survive. Species are considered generalists when they can use a variety of habitats to get the resources needed to thrive while others are specialists that need specific habitats to meet their needs. Many species are somewhere in between, needing specific features within a habitat for a particular life stage in their annual cycle. Breeding habitat is a good example: without specific breeding habitat features available, animals are less likely to successfully reproduce resulting in declining populations.

NJ’s Wildlife Action Plan uses a relatively coarse habitat classification to determine nineteen key habitat types. Most threats impacting at-risk species are directly linked to the habitats in which they live. Rather than a species-specific approach, New Jersey’s 2025 Wildlife Action Plan focuses on identifying the key threats facing these habitats. By taking actions to address threats facing habitats, we can improve the outcome of the species that depend on those habitats – working toward the goal of recovery of species’ populations.

The 2025 SWAP addresses habitat condition at the Region level.

2025 SWAP Habitat Definitions

Upland Habitats

Forest & Woodlands

Forest and woodlands are found across New Jersey, containing at least 10% tree canopy cover of coniferous, deciduous, or a mix of both types of trees. This category includes young and regenerating forests where the woody vegetation is >10 feet tall, savannas and other open-canopy forests, and mature closed-canopy forests we see throughout most of New Jersey today. Forest and woodlands play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, providing habitat for at-risk species, and can act as natural carbon sinks. *Note-Forested Wetland habitat is included in Non-tidal Wetlands habitat.

While the terms forests and woodlands are often used interchangeably, forests typically are denser than woodlands. They have a high density of trees, often with a closed canopy that limits sunlight reaching the forest floor. Woodlands usually have a lower density of trees compared to forests. The canopy is more open, allowing more sunlight to penetrate to the ground. Young and regenerating forests where woody vegetation is <10 feet tall are also considered forest by definition, but because this habitat is so important for at-risk species, it has been separated into its own category (see Shrublands).

Forest and woodlands are found across New Jersey, although the Pinelands, Highlands, and Inner Coastal Plain regions contain significant acreage of this type of habitat.

Grasslands

Both natural grasslands and agricultural lands (cropland and pasture lands) are considered grasslands or potential grasslands in New Jersey. Natural grasslands are open areas dominated primarily by grasses and wildflowers, with some shrubs; trees are few or absent. Since many agricultural lands consist of open fields with grasses and other low-growing vegetation including grains, they fit the definition of grasslands. Lands that have grazing animals also fit the definition. Agricultural lands can quickly shift from active cropland to resting, rotational fields to hayfields based on the landowner’s needs.

Grasslands are an early successional plant community, meaning that over time, they will change from grassland to shrubland and eventually become a forest. Without natural disturbance, these habitats require management to remain grassland habitat.

These habitats, when managed appropriately, are critical for pollinators, native plants, grassland nesting birds, and other species, including many that are endangered or threatened.

Grasslands are found in every region in New Jersy. However, the Piedmont and Inner Coastal Plain regions contain significant acreage of grasslands.

Shrublands

Shrublands are defined as areas dominated by woody vegetation (deciduous, coniferous, or mixed) that are typically <10 feet tall, with few trees >10 feet tall. These habitats often emerge from old fields and are characterized by a mix of shrubs, small trees, and herbaceous plants, creating a diverse and structurally complex environment. Shrublands provide essential nesting, feeding, and escape cover for various wildlife species, including birds, small mammals, snakes, and insects. NOTE: Wetland Shrublands are defined in Non-tidal Wetlands habitat.

Shrublands are an early successional habitat type that require active management or natural disturbance to maintain their ecological value. In fact, a major threat to shrublands is succession to mature forest habitat. While this process takes time, as shrublands age they lose the habitat structure that is needed for early successional habitat specialists, many of which are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in New Jersey.

While shrubland habitat is found across New Jersey, significant shrubland habitat is found in the Highlands, Kittatinny Valley, Piedmont, and Pinelands.

Glades

Glades are naturally occurring forest thinnings or clearings on peaks, ridgelines, or mountainous slopes and within the Pine Barrens where soils and/or geology prevent the growth or long-term establishment of most woody vegetation. As such, they have little to no overstory vegetation.  The lack of canopy cover allows more sunlight to reach the ground, supporting a variety of grasses and herbaceous plants.

In New Jersey’s mountainous terrain, glades occur along ridgelines and mountain slopes underlain by shallow, rocky soils and exposed bedrock. They are largely dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants but may also include a sparse presence of low to –mid-level shrubs (e.g., lowbush blueberry, scrub oak). In the Pinelands, these areas include paleodunes (ancient dune formations) but also “balds.” These sites are characterized by barren sands, lichens, grasses and sedges, and other herbaceous plants. They may include a sparse presence of dwarf shrubs and low shrubs (e.g., lowbush blueberry, huckleberry).  Some glades are dependent on fire to maintain their structural characteristics.

Glades provide important habitats for many specialist plant and animal species.

Barrens and Exposed Rock

Barrens are open areas with little to no vegetation and include exposed rock habitats, sand pits, and open (non-coastal) sand areas. These areas have nutrient-poor, acidic soils and provide important habitat for rare animal and plant species.

Exposed rock habitat in New Jersey are areas where bedrock or large rocks are visible at the surface and include cliff faces, talus slopes, boulder fields, rockslides, outcrops, and rock quarries. These habitats are home to plant and animal species adapted to rocky environments. Exposed rock can be found across central and northern New Jersey, including outcrops along rivers, cliffs, and areas with significant geological formations.

Subterranean

Subterranean habitats are found below the surface, including within or beneath the leaf litter or duff, woody debris, logs, rock feature tunnels, crevices and cavities, natural caves, mines and other artificial sub-surface features.

Subterranean habitats in New Jersey provide unique ecosystems for various species. These habitats are characterized by their absence of light, and shelter from the elements, including extreme temperatures. This habitat type is found throughout New Jersey, with rocky features, natural caves, and remnant underground mines found in the northern and central regions.

Developed Areas

As one of the most densely populated states in the country, New Jersey has vast areas that are dominated by residential, commercial, and industrial land uses. Within developed areas, wildlife habitats may be found in large or small pockets. Managed open spaces such as parks, gardens, nature sanctuaries, recreation areas, airports, cemeteries, and golf courses provide different levels of habitat quality, but they can be important for the animals living in these areas if managed with wildlife in mind.

Even smaller areas of natural habitat within developed areas such as backyard habitat, pollinator gardens, and corporate green spaces provide important habitat for local breeding species and essential refuge for species that migrate. For example, “pocket parks” that are managed for native vegetation that produce seed and nectar, will support monarch butterflies and migrating songbirds. Wildlife with small home ranges, like turtles and salamanders, also benefit from relatively small habitats where food and water resources are reliably available.

Aquatic Habitats

Rivers and Streams

Rivers are larger bodies of flowing water that typically span extensive areas, while streams are smaller and can be tributaries to rivers. The flow of water in these systems can vary from fast-moving and turbulent in mountain streams to calm and slow-moving in flatter landscapes. This habitat class also includes canals, but not tidally influenced rivers and streams.

Many of our aquatic invertebrates, like dragonflies and mussels, and state-listed freshwater fish rely on clear, clean streams to breed. The substrate (bottom of the stream), chemistry, water velocity, and adjacent land uses are factors influencing the wildlife that live and reproduce in this habitat type.

Rivers and streams are found in every region in New Jersey.

Freshwater Tidal Rivers and Streams

Freshwater tidal rivers and streams are waterways that experience regular tidal fluctuations in water level and flow direction but remain predominantly freshwater due to their distance from the ocean or influx of freshwater from upstream sources. These rivers are influenced by the Atlantic Ocean’s tides but do not contain significant saltwater because they are located upstream of brackish water zone. They are found in the transition area between fully tidal rivers and streams and non-tidal freshwater rivers and streams.

Freshwater tidal rivers and streams provide spawning areas for migratory fish species, invertebrates, and foraging habitat for birds.

Lakes & Ponds

Lakes and ponds in New Jersey are perennial freshwater bodies of standing water that vary in size and depth.

Lakes are typically larger and deeper than ponds and range from smaller artificial reservoirs to large natural and artificial bodies of water. Because of their size, lake waters can become stratified based on temperature with the top layer being warmer and the deeper layer being colder. Ponds are usually smaller and shallower than lakes and can also be artificial or natural. Ponds generally have a uniform temperature due to their shallow depth.

Shorelines

Shorelines are non-beach and non-dune habitat bordering large waterbodies where vegetation is limited by fluctuating water levels, waves or tides. This includes shorelines of lakes, ponds, freshwater and tidal rivers and streams.

Beaches & Dunes

Beaches and dunes are shaped by constant wave action, wind, and shifting sands, creating a dynamic environment. They include both vegetated and non-vegetated coastal sand dunes. New Jersey has approximately 130 miles of coastline, much of which is composed of sandy beaches and dunes.

Beaches are formed by the movement of waves and currents that deposit sand along the shoreline. The sand is composed of small grains of rock and shell material, and these beaches are typically shaped by tidal forces. Associated beach areas are those places that are influenced by tides and extend to the mean low water mark. They are the part of the beach that gets wet from tides. Dunes are mounds of sand that accumulate behind the beach, shaped by wind and plant growth. They act as natural barriers, protecting inland areas from storm surges and flooding.

In New Jersey, beaches and dunes are also formed by artificial means, such as beach nourishments.

Wetland Habitats

Non-tidal Wetlands

Non-tidal wetland habitats are freshwater wetlands dominated by plants and are not influenced by tidal actions or salinity. Typically, they are found in inland areas, floodplains, and along lakes, rivers, and streams where water remains at or near the surface for most of the year. Types of non-tidal wetlands include fens, bogs, and swamps. This habitat type does not include seasonally flooded wetland depressions or ponds (see Vernal Pools).

Non-tidal wetlands support plants and animals adapted to wet conditions. The species and structure of the vegetation within a non-tidal wetland also depends on the wetland type. For example, a swamp is typically a forested wetland with standing water dominated by trees like Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)), and Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica). In contrast, marshes are usually open herbaceous wetlands dominated by sedges and grasses. Bogs and fens, on the other hand, are groundwater- or spring-fed wetlands with specialized plant life.

This diverse habitat type supports biodiversity in general and many specialized at-risk species.

Tidal Wetlands & Flats

Tidal wetlands and flats are coastal habitats that are influenced by the ebb and flow of tides. They are flooded and drained by tidal cycles making them highly dynamic and ecologically rich, with high tides depositing sediment and bringing in food resources. This habitat type includes tidal high and low marsh, tidal flats, tidal shrub and forest wetlands.

High and low salt marshes are regularly flooded by tides and dominated by salt tolerant grasses like Spartina (cordgrass). This habitat type is important for nesting, foraging, and migrating of many bird species. Marine invertebrates like the fiddler crab depend on this habitat for survival.

Tidal flats are low-lying, muddy or sandy areas exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide most often associated with estuaries and coastal bays. Tidal mudflats are especially critical for migratory shorebirds and support aquatic marine invertebrates and shellfish.

Vernal Pools

Vernal pools are confined depressions, either natural or artificial, that hold water from precipitation, runoff, or rising groundwater for a variable period of two months or longer. They typically fill with water during the colder months (fall to spring) and dry up by mid to late summer. This temporary nature limits the presence of fish, which is critical for species that rely on fish-free environments for reproduction, in particular amphibians and aquatic invertebrates.

Vernal pools include coastal plain intermittent ponds and calcareous sinkhole ponds.  Vernal pools are found throughout New Jersey.

Riparian & Floodplain Zones

Riparian and floodplain zone habitats are vegetated areas directly associated with stream or river sides and are subject to periodic flooding.

Riparian zones are the interfaces between land and a stream, river, or other water bodies. These zones typically extend from the high-water mark (or flood line) of the watercourse to the upland areas and are typically composed of a mix of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous cover. Frequency of flooding depends on the proximity of the riparian zone to the river or stream. Shrub and herbaceous cover depend on the frequency of flooding.

Floodplain zones are low-lying areas adjacent to rivers and streams and subject to flooding when the streams and rivers rise and overflow their banks from heavy rainfall or snowmelt. Trees that grow in these zones are able to tolerate waterlogged soils and fluctuating water levels. Many trees are deep-rooted and able to stay rooted during high velocity water events. Shrub and herbaceous cover depend on the frequency of flooding.

Back Bays, Estuaries, and Tidal Rivers and Streams

Back bays, estuaries, and tidal rivers and streams are coastal, subtidal (continuously submerged), open, brackish water habitats. Brackish water is a mix of saltwater and freshwater and is more saline than freshwater but less saline than seawater.

Back bays are shallow, sheltered coastal waters located between barrier islands and the mainland. In New Jersey, back bays are often found along the Jersey Shore, providing habitat for fish, crabs, and birds. They serve as nursery habitat for marine life and act as buffers against storm surges. An example of bay habitat is Barnegat Bay, one of New Jersey’s most important bays.

Estuaries are generally shallow areas, although their depth varies based on location and tides. Because more sunlight can penetrate the water, they have high productivity in phytoplankton and seagrass beds. They provide nursery grounds for many marine fish and invertebrate species. New Jersey’s major estuaries include the Delaware Estuary and the Hudson-Raritan Estuary.

Tidal rivers and streams experience the rise and fall of ocean tides and have both freshwater and saltwater influence. These waterways play a key role in sediment transport and nutrient cycling, supporting both freshwater and saltwater species. In New Jersey, examples include parts of the Delaware River, Raritan River, and Mullica River.

Marine Habitats

Marine Nearshore

Marine Nearshore is where the ocean meets the land. From the mean low waterline, it is the subtidal waters seaward beyond the breaker zone, to the subtidal waters of back-bays, coastal bays, and lagoons.

Marine Offshore & Oceanic

Marine Offshore and Oceanic habitat extends seaward from the marine nearshore into the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It includes the water over the continental shelf and beyond to the deep oceanic waters. These waters are influenced by ocean currents, depth, temperature, and seasonal and climate changes, supporting a diverse range of marine life.

The Gulf Stream and cold-water currents create dynamic temperature shifts that influence marine life migrations. New Jersey’s network of artificial reef sites is located in this habitat.

This habitat supports species from plankton to humpback whales.