Download Salt marshes

What are Salt Marshes?
 Salt Marshes are types of wetlands that occur between land
and the ocean. They are characterized by plants tolerant of
regular tidal influx of salt water.
 They typically contain several zones of plants upper, high,
and low marsh.
 Salt marshes can be found at mouths of rivers flowing into
the ocean, but also in other sheltered areas, such as behind
barrier islands.
Physical Characteristics:
o Salinity- average soil salinities at the sites ranged from
0 to 35 ppt (parts per thousand). The higher the zone the
less salinity there is.
o Temperature- Temperature is widely variable, as the air in
summer is much warmer than the water, and the air in winter is
much colder than the water.
o Water flow- there is a daily tidal flow that occurs and
continuously floods the area. It is an important process in
delivering sediments, nutrients and plant water supply to the
marsh.
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Plants and Animals Found
Most Salt Marshes contain Spartina- this plant breaks into small
pieces called detritus that fuels the marsh and its animals. It then
forms an attachment site for microscopic organisms such as bacteria,
fungi and small algae.
Bottom-dwelling scavengers such as worms, fishes, shrimps and crabs
eat the decaying plant material, along with the bacteria, fungi and
attached organisms.
Microscopic animals associated with detritus cover the surface of mud
in the salt marsh. (Help stabilize sediments)
Fiddler crabs, marsh snails and marsh mussels are typical
invertebrate species which live in salt marshes.
Interesting Information:

An endangered species living in Salt Marshes is the Salt Marsh
Mouse. It is about 2.75-3.0 inches long and weighs 0.3-0.5
ounces.
 Most marsh plants flourish in the spring and summer, growing
taller and more abundant. In the fall, they begin to decay.
 South Carolina marshes are home to many species of birds like
the red-winged black bird, herons, and egrets.
Citations:

SCDNR - Salt Marsh." South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Web. 07 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/pub/seascience/dynamic.html>.

“Estuaries, Salt Marshes, and Mangrove" MarineBio.org Marine
Biology, Ocean Life Conservation, Sea
Creatures, Biodiversity,
Oceans Research
<http://marinebio.org/oceans/estuaries-salt-marshes-mangroves.asp.>
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"Salt Marsh." Encyclopedia of Earth. Web. 07 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.eoearth.org/article/Salt_marsh>.
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"Birds and Science." Amigos De Bolsa Chica. Web. 07 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.amigosdebolsachica.org/birdsandscience.htm>.