Salt Marshes and Mangroves By: Talia Broadus Taylor Simpson Daniel Pond Camille Cantrell

What is a Salt Marsh? Salt marsh communities can be found in mud flats of temperate and sub arctic regions. Cord Grass is the dominate plant. Many commercial shell fish live out their life cycle in salt marshes.

Distribution of Salt Marsh Plants Salt marshes are divided into two regions: low marsh and high marsh. Low marsh is covered by tidal water most of the day, while high marsh is covered by salt water every day. Low marsh is dominated by the cord grass. Primary producers of salt marshes: green algae and benthic diatoms.

Salt Marsh Productivity Fresh nutrients are brought upon by changing tides. This helps to support a high level production. A typical salt marsh can produce as much as 10 tons of vegetation per acre. Bacteria and salt marshes converts these detritus into bacterial biomass while the rest is decomposed.

Salt Marsh Animals Complex communities of marsh grasses are made because they protect animals. Some are permanent while some only come at high or low tide Permanent residents: Periwinkle snails that feed on algae; the tidal marsh snail, which is the dominate gastropod mollusk; and the ribbed muscle which closes its valves at low tide to trap moisture and prevent desiccation.

Succession in Salt Marshes The roots of marsh plants act as a sediment trap. The area becomes built up with sand and silt, which becomes rich mud for decaying material. Tall cord is replaced by short cord grass which then, in turn, is replaced by rushes.

What is a Mangrove? Mangrove forests (mangals), replace the salt marshes in tropical regions. These forests appear where there is little wave action and muddy sediments lack oxygen. Mangal regions can contain as many as 40 species and may exhibit zonation. Red Mangrove

Ecological Values Holds in sediment Shelter for fish Protects intercostals from weather

Distribution in Mangrove Plants Red mangroves are the pioneering species and are closest to the waters edge. Its produces seeds that germinate and stay attached to the parent plant. On the shore are the black mangroves. Closest to the land are white mangroves and button woods. Mangroves are differentiated by their ability to tolerate flooding and their different tolerances to soil salinity.

Mangrove Root Systems Roots are adapted to anchor the trees firmly and are adapted to buried parts of the plant. The roots systems are shallow and are widely spread. Black mangroves have erect, aerial roots called pneumatophores. Prop roots form a tangle that slows water movement, causing suspended materials to sink to the bottom.

Mangrove Productivity Primary producers are mangrove plants, algae and diatoms. In tropical regions, climbing crabs feed on mangrove leaves but, most of the leaves and detritus are moved by tidal currents. Mangles support commercial fish and shell fish such as blue crab, shrimp, spiny lobster, mullet, spotted sea trout, and red drum.

Mangroves as a Habitat The prop roots of mangroves provide a habitat for animals, these roots become encrusted with a purple oyster called the coon oyster. Fish known as mud skippers live burrowed in the mud. Fish that do this come out at low tide and behave more like amphibians than fish.

Activity Name 3 roles of the mangrove community. What is a salt marsh?

Activity Answers Mangrove roles: Holds in sediment, Shelter for fish, Protects intercostals from weather Salt marsh: communities can be found in mud flats of temperate and sub arctic regions, Cord Grass is the dominate plant, Many commercial shell fish live out their life cycle in salt marshes.