The ecosystem is that of a temperate forest. But if it is along the outer banks, it is called a maritime forest. In a typical maritime forest, the more salt-tolerant trees and shrubs such as red cedar, live oak, and wax myrtle, grow first and create a protective buffer from the harsh salt sprays, which then allows species with less salt tolerance to begin to grow In the canopy there is a variety of sub-canopy trees and shrubs, as well as vines and herbaceous plants.