Wetlands Types

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Tidal Freshwater Marsh definition

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Close enough to coasts to get tides, but above reach of ocean saltwater

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Tidal Freshwater Marsh Percent of US total

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1% of US total

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Tidal Freshwater Marsh Extent

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Mid & South Atlantic Coast in US & NO gulf coast. Total 650,000 ha

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Tidal Freshwater Marsh characteristics

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- recent (Holocene)
- caused by sediments filling in & therefore still expanding
- generally gradual transition from open water to uplands

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Tidal Freshwater Marsh Geomorphology

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2 types: High and Low marsh. Different plants, soil & water chemistry.
Low: younger, deeper water for 9-12 hrs/cycle
High: 30 cm depth for up to 4 hr/tidal cycle

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Tidal Freshwater Marsh Common Feature

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Levee- elevated along stream due to most sediment deposition

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Tidal Freshwater Marsh chemistry

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-Sediments characterized as highly organic, anaerobic, circumneutral.
- water high in nitrogen
- Net importers of N and P in the spring, tie up nutrients in spring and summer export flush in fall, sum net export over the year.

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Tidal Freshwater Marsh Ecosystem Function

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HIghly Productive: 3 zones of production
1. Low marsh along tidal creeks - broadleaf plants, low productivity
2. High marsh w/ grasses- highest productivity
3. High marsh w/ mixed annuals- moderate productivity

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Mangroves Definition

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An association of halophytic trees, shrubs and other plants growing in brackish to saline tidal water of tropical and subtropical coastlines.

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Mangroves Percent of US total

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1% of US total

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Mangroves Extent

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Tropical and Subtropical +- 25 degrees N/S. 68 Spp. in the world In US. Atlantic and Gulf coasts of FL.

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Mangroves Characteristics

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- need protection from wave action- bays, estuaries, lagoons, lee of peninsula, islands
- tides important for a) nutrient import, b) aerate soil c) stabilize salinity in soil

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Mangroves Types: Overwash mangrove islands

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daily overwashed in high tide (red)

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Mangroves types: Fringe mangrove wetland

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Daily tide, protected shoreline (Red)

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Mangroves types: Riverine mangrove wetland

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can dry for a time & be influenced by freshwater, floodplains and coastal rivers (R, some B, W)

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Mangroves types: Basin mangrove wetlands

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only flood at highest tides, inland despressions, stagnant water (B most common, W, R)

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Mangroves types: Hammock Mangrove wetlands

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occasional flooding, dwarf plants,, isolated, raised island in everglades - peat (R)

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Mangroves types: Dwarf mangrove wetlands

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spring or storm surge only, small trees, nutrient poor, sandy or limestone marl soil (R or B)

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Mangroves Chemistry

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Wide range of salinity, less variation in soil, low oxygen when flooded

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Mangroves adaptations: Pneumatophores

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AKA cypress knees. Provide additional oxygen input to the plant

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Mangroves adaptations: Prop roots

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hang out over the water. Source of oxygen

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Mangroves adaptations: Salinity control

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1) exclude salt
2) excrete salt through glands, on leaf surface
3) 2 leaf falls/yr

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Mangroves adaptations: viviparous seedlings

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seedling germinates will on the mangrove, sends out roots, grows leaves, drops off tree, floats with roots down and leaves floating until root becomes anchored in sediment

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Tidal Salt Marsh Definition

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Halophytic (salt tolerant) grassland and dwarf brushwood on alluvial sediments bordering saline water with tidal water level fluctuations

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Tidal Salt Marsh Percent of US total

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5% of US total

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Tidal Salt Marsh Extent

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3 geographic units:
1. Arctic Marshes- N Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, N. Scandinavia, Russia- Carex.
2. Eastern N America marshes- Spartina, Juncus (A) Bay of Fundy (B) New England (C) Coastal Plain
3. Wester No. America Marshes- spartina

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Geomorphology definition

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Branch of geology dealing with form of the earth, general configuration of its surface, and changes that take place in the evolution of its land forms.

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Tidal Salt Marsh characteristics

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-intertidal
-gentle slope
-protection from waves/storm energy
-sediment from uplands, coastal shelf & organic matter

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Tidal Salt Marsh Geomorphology

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2 Major Types based on sediment source:
A. Marine Dominated- reworked marine sediments, need shelter, sand bars, islands
B. River dominated- formed in deltaic areas, source river sediments, Mississippi river delta

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Tidal Salt Marsh Hydrology

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Tides important- influence chemistry, biology, nutirents, toxins, oxygen content. Features differ in vegetation and chemistry.
1. Tidal creeks
2. Tidal pools (pannes, pans)- high salinity

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Tidal Salt Marsh Chemistry

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Salinity influenced by
1. Frequency of tides
2. Rainfall/drought
3. Tidal creeks- lower salinity
4. Soil texture- silt/clay retain more salt than sand
5. Water table- high, less soil salinity
6.Inflows from fresh water, springs

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Tidal Salt Marsh Ecosystem Structure

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Upper marsh (high marsh)- flooded irregularly, min 10 days of continuous exposure to atmosphere. Spartina patens, Distichlis, Juncus.
Lower marsh (intertidal marsh)- flooded nearly daily and never > 9 days exposure continuously to atmosphere- Spartina alterniflora.

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Tidal Salt Marsh Ecosystem Structure- zones

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1. Intertidal zone (lower marsh) next to estuary, bay, tidal creek, dominated by S. alterniflora (salt marsh cordgrass)
2. High marsh (spartina patens- salt meadow cordgrass) mixed with spike grass.
3. Higher at normal high tide- juncus gerardii (black grass), distichlis spicata (spike grass)
4. Limit of upper portion at exceptional high tide- marsh elder and switch grass

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Tidal Salt Marsh Ecosystem Function

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-High Primary Productivity (1000-4000 g/m2/yr)
-High producers of detritus
-Source/sink for N
-Wildlife habitat
-Stabilize shore areas
-Sediment trapping
-harvest Spartina