North Atlantic Coastal MarshesNorth Atlantic Coastal Marshes

Marshes DefinedMarshes Defined

Marshes Defined: Wetlands frequently or Marshes Defined: Wetlands frequently or continually covered with water, continually covered with water, characterized by emergent soft vegetation characterized by emergent soft vegetation adapted to saturated soil conditionsadapted to saturated soil conditions

There are many types of marshes: There are many types of marshes:

Prairie Potholes to EvergladesPrairie Potholes to Everglades

Coastal to InlandCoastal to Inland

Saltwater to FreshwaterSaltwater to Freshwater

Marshes DefinedMarshes Defined

Freshwater, Brackish, or SalineFreshwater, Brackish, or Saline Coastal marshes are most prevalent in the United Coastal marshes are most prevalent in the United

States on the eastern coast from Maine to Florida States on the eastern coast from Maine to Florida and continuing on to Louisiana and Texas along the and continuing on to Louisiana and Texas along the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico

Two types of coastal marshes:Two types of coastal marshes: Saline tidal marshes which are covered and Saline tidal marshes which are covered and

exposed daily by the tideexposed daily by the tide Saline marsh is covered by water sporadicallySaline marsh is covered by water sporadically

Marsh IngredientsMarsh Ingredients

A transect of a 'typical' coastal marsh A transect of a 'typical' coastal marsh could include seawater, short salt marsh could include seawater, short salt marsh grasses, taller salt marsh grasses and other grasses, taller salt marsh grasses and other plants, brackish water plants on slight elevation, plants, brackish water plants on slight elevation, and taller brackish water plants on land above and taller brackish water plants on land above high tide. This biome includes plants which high tide. This biome includes plants which thrive on salty or brackish water, and many thrive on salty or brackish water, and many animals which inhabit this rich environment.animals which inhabit this rich environment.

All marshes are influenced by the All marshes are influenced by the ocean tidesocean tides

Low Tide

These pictures are taken of the same place within the same day

High Tide

Functions and ValuesFunctions and Values

Buffer stormy seas, slow shoreline erosion, and Buffer stormy seas, slow shoreline erosion, and absorb excess nutrientsabsorb excess nutrients

The winding channels along with dense The winding channels along with dense vegetation can absorb flood waters and release vegetation can absorb flood waters and release them slowlythem slowly

The gradual release of water reduces erosion The gradual release of water reduces erosion and possible property damage. and possible property damage.

Coastal wetlands absorb the erosive energy of Coastal wetlands absorb the erosive energy of waves, further reducing erosion.waves, further reducing erosion.

Functions and ValuesFunctions and Values

Trap potential pollutants before they reach Trap potential pollutants before they reach important waterwaysimportant waterways

Pollutants are carried by sediment Pollutants are carried by sediment particles into the marsh and settle into the particles into the marsh and settle into the marsh which limits the impact on humansmarsh which limits the impact on humans

Marsh plants can absorb excess nutrients, Marsh plants can absorb excess nutrients, reducing algal blooms in coastal baysreducing algal blooms in coastal bays

Functions and ValuesFunctions and Values

Provide vital food and habitat for clams, crabs, Provide vital food and habitat for clams, crabs, juvenile fish, and offer shelter and nesting sites juvenile fish, and offer shelter and nesting sites for many species of waterfowl and for numerous for many species of waterfowl and for numerous recreational and commercial speciesrecreational and commercial species

Gulf of Maine Coastal Program identified Gulf of Maine Coastal Program identified approximately 300 nationally significant nesting approximately 300 nationally significant nesting islands and is working in partnerships to islands and is working in partnerships to promote habitat protection and restoration promote habitat protection and restoration

Casco BayCasco Bay

Casco Bay, located where New England's Casco Bay, located where New England's rockbound coast meets southern beaches and rockbound coast meets southern beaches and salt marshes, is surrounded by 15 towns. Gulf of salt marshes, is surrounded by 15 towns. Gulf of Maine Coastal Program identified and mapped Maine Coastal Program identified and mapped important habitat for 9 groups of species, important habitat for 9 groups of species, including waterbirds, seabirds, wading birds, including waterbirds, seabirds, wading birds, fish, eelgrass, cordgrass, marine worms, fish, eelgrass, cordgrass, marine worms, shellfish and endangered/threatened species.shellfish and endangered/threatened species. Results are being used to catalyze voluntary Results are being used to catalyze voluntary habitat protection efforts in the region habitat protection efforts in the region

ProductivityProductivity

Marshes are considered one of the most productive Marshes are considered one of the most productive ecosystems on earthecosystems on earth

ProductivityProductivity is usually defined as the amount of is usually defined as the amount of biomass,or living tissue, that an ecosystem produces biomass,or living tissue, that an ecosystem produces over a period of timeover a period of time..

A large amount of detritus is produced which refers to A large amount of detritus is produced which refers to dead organic materialdead organic material

Plant diversity, biochemical Plant diversity, biochemical reactions, and hydrology of these reactions, and hydrology of these habitats make them extremelyhabitats make them extremely productive.productive.

PlantsPlants

Marshes support a Marshes support a highly specialized set highly specialized set of life that is adapted of life that is adapted for the saline for the saline conditions and conditions and changing water levelschanging water levels

Communities are Communities are composed of 90% composed of 90% grasses and grass grasses and grass like plants, 5% woody like plants, 5% woody plants, and 5% forbsplants, and 5% forbs

Fish Nursery and UsesFish Nursery and Uses

Plenty of Food-Young fish often have a varied diet, Plenty of Food-Young fish often have a varied diet, foraging for food on the marsh bottom on plants or foraging for food on the marsh bottom on plants or organisms. Organic detritus is another food source organisms. Organic detritus is another food source along with algaealong with algae

Plenty of Cover- Small fish can hide from predators Plenty of Cover- Small fish can hide from predators because the shallow brackish water excludes larger fishbecause the shallow brackish water excludes larger fish

A number of migratory fish must travel back and forth A number of migratory fish must travel back and forth between salt and freshwater to complete their life cycle. between salt and freshwater to complete their life cycle. Marshes provide pathways that link fresh and salt water Marshes provide pathways that link fresh and salt water and provide an area to feed and prepare for migrationand provide an area to feed and prepare for migration

AnimalsAnimals Tidal wetlands are the wintering homes for great flocks Tidal wetlands are the wintering homes for great flocks

of migratory waterfowl. Other wildlife, including muskrats, of migratory waterfowl. Other wildlife, including muskrats, beaver, otter, song birds and wading birds, rely on beaver, otter, song birds and wading birds, rely on wetlands for food and cover. Fish and shellfish, many of wetlands for food and cover. Fish and shellfish, many of which are commercially valuable, use wetlands as which are commercially valuable, use wetlands as spawning or nursery areas. Thousands of aquatic spawning or nursery areas. Thousands of aquatic animals, including reptiles amphibians, worms, insects, animals, including reptiles amphibians, worms, insects, snails, mussels and tiny crustaceans, thrive in wetlands snails, mussels and tiny crustaceans, thrive in wetlands and are food for other organisms. and are food for other organisms.

AnimalsAnimals

Fiddler Crabs Painted Box Turtles

Ribbed Mussels

AnimalsAnimals

Aquatic insects also thrive in marshesAquatic insects also thrive in marshes Some insects found include:Some insects found include: Giant Water Bug, also known as the Toe-Giant Water Bug, also known as the Toe-

biterbiter Brown Water ScorpionBrown Water Scorpion MosquitoesMosquitoes DragonfliesDragonflies DamselfliesDamselflies

Bird UseBird Use

This abundance of This abundance of insects, amphibians and insects, amphibians and plants is like a meal plants is like a meal waiting to happen for waiting to happen for birds, which is one birds, which is one reason why birds are so reason why birds are so populous in marshes.populous in marshes.

Non-Migrating BirdsNon-Migrating Birds

Herons, Rails, and BitternsHerons, Rails, and Bitterns

Human UseHuman Use

Human industries such as seafood and tourism are Human industries such as seafood and tourism are dependent upon healthy coastal marshes both for their dependent upon healthy coastal marshes both for their ability to produce and sustain life and for their ability to ability to produce and sustain life and for their ability to transform human pollution to less toxic materials.transform human pollution to less toxic materials.

Economically, wetlands provide opportunities for fishing, Economically, wetlands provide opportunities for fishing, crabbing and hunting. In the Gulf of Maine, estuaries and crabbing and hunting. In the Gulf of Maine, estuaries and coastal wetlands are used by two-thirds of commercially coastal wetlands are used by two-thirds of commercially valuable fish, shellfish,baitworms,and other forage valuable fish, shellfish,baitworms,and other forage organisms for at least some point in their lifeorganisms for at least some point in their life

Other popular activities include hiking, bird watching, Other popular activities include hiking, bird watching, photography and wildlife study. People are lured by the photography and wildlife study. People are lured by the beauty of wetlands and much leisure time is spent simply beauty of wetlands and much leisure time is spent simply enjoying the sights and sounds these areas can offer.enjoying the sights and sounds these areas can offer.

Loss of MarshesLoss of Marshes

The reason for early loss is dredging, The reason for early loss is dredging, filling, and drainingfilling, and draining

More recent loss is due to pollution, rise in More recent loss is due to pollution, rise in sea level, and structures that block tidal sea level, and structures that block tidal flowsflows

DegradationDegradation Marshes have been drained all along the east coast in hopes to eradicate Marshes have been drained all along the east coast in hopes to eradicate

mosquitosmosquitos

Used as dumps, over-hunted, and many other abusesUsed as dumps, over-hunted, and many other abuses

Filled to help provide habitable land for the high concentrations of peopleFilled to help provide habitable land for the high concentrations of people

Coastal marshes are also very proximate to most east coast tourist Coastal marshes are also very proximate to most east coast tourist beaches, stretching from Maine to Florida. As a result, they have been beaches, stretching from Maine to Florida. As a result, they have been filled or otherwise constricted as development expanded tourist filled or otherwise constricted as development expanded tourist communities. communities.

Other human-induced factors, such as air and water pollution, global Other human-induced factors, such as air and water pollution, global warming, and rising sea levels have also afflicted coastal marshes. warming, and rising sea levels have also afflicted coastal marshes. Effects of direct and indirect human encroachments have resulted in the Effects of direct and indirect human encroachments have resulted in the obliteration of many marshes, and the declining health of many others.obliteration of many marshes, and the declining health of many others.

Exotic SpeciesExotic Species Nutria are semi-aquatic rodents native to South America, Nutria are semi-aquatic rodents native to South America,

which now also occupy brackish water marshes in parts which now also occupy brackish water marshes in parts of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.

The ProblemThe Problem Nutria's foraging of wetland root mats results in:Nutria's foraging of wetland root mats results in: The loss of wetlands' filtering capacity The loss of wetlands' filtering capacity Rapid erosion of marshes Rapid erosion of marshes Loss of habitat for native species due to wetland loss Loss of habitat for native species due to wetland loss Competitive pressure on native muskrat speciesCompetitive pressure on native muskrat species

Exotics ContinuedExotics Continued

Water chestnut – Water chestnut – Trapa natansTrapa natans – an invasive plant that can blanket the surface of ponds. – an invasive plant that can blanket the surface of ponds. Water chestnut creates a monoculture, preventing sunlight from reaching SAV and Water chestnut creates a monoculture, preventing sunlight from reaching SAV and creating large, spiny seed pods that interfere with recreational use of waterways and creating large, spiny seed pods that interfere with recreational use of waterways and beaches. beaches.

Purple loosestrife – Purple loosestrife – Lythrum salicariaLythrum salicaria – a pretty but persistently invasive plant. Like – a pretty but persistently invasive plant. Like water chestnut, loosestrife creates a monoculture of plants in freshwater wetlands, water chestnut, loosestrife creates a monoculture of plants in freshwater wetlands, excluding use of habitat by a diversity of native plants. It appears to have minimal value excluding use of habitat by a diversity of native plants. It appears to have minimal value to native species. to native species.

DNR also lists five nuisance species that have not yet caused known problems but DNR also lists five nuisance species that have not yet caused known problems but which may have the potential to be harmful are: which may have the potential to be harmful are:

Zebra mussel – Zebra mussel – Dreissena polymorphaDreissena polymorpha Grass carp – Grass carp – Ctenopharyngodon idellaCtenopharyngodon idella Japanese shore crab – Japanese shore crab – Hemigrapsus sanguineusHemigrapsus sanguineus Rapa whelk – Rapa whelk – Rapana venosaRapana venosa Nuclear worm – Nuclear worm – Namalycastis abiumaNamalycastis abiuma Suminoe oyster – Suminoe oyster – Crassostrea ariakensisCrassostrea ariakensis

OvercrowdingOvercrowding

Rising population size Rising population size of Snow Geeseof Snow Geese

Large goose eat outsLarge goose eat outs Increased salinity Increased salinity

levelslevels Increased tidal energy Increased tidal energy

flowflow Impossible conditions Impossible conditions

for vegetation to be for vegetation to be replacedreplaced

ConservationConservation

Some restoration activities include constructing Some restoration activities include constructing passages to allow fish to swim upstream or out to sea, passages to allow fish to swim upstream or out to sea, replacing culverts to bring back natural tidal flow and replacing culverts to bring back natural tidal flow and removing dams to restore vast stretches of a watershed removing dams to restore vast stretches of a watershed

Restoration projects may involve replacement of native Restoration projects may involve replacement of native plants and grasses or rerouting or redesigning roads and plants and grasses or rerouting or redesigning roads and bridges. Ensuring and protecting the safety of these bridges. Ensuring and protecting the safety of these valuable salt marsh ecosystems and the organisms valuable salt marsh ecosystems and the organisms found within, plays an important role in protecting all found within, plays an important role in protecting all aquatic and coastal habitats and ecosystemsaquatic and coastal habitats and ecosystems

ConservationConservation

•The Clean Water Act(1972) Section The Clean Water Act(1972) Section 404 established the process by which 404 established the process by which developers had to get permits to developers had to get permits to change wetlands through dredging or change wetlands through dredging or fillingfilling

•Coastal Zone Management Coastal Zone Management Act(1972) established the Office of Act(1972) established the Office of Coastal Zone ManagementCoastal Zone Management

•Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Ducks Unlimited and The Nature ConservacyConservacy

ConclusionConclusion

Marshes provide Marshes provide

vital habitats for vital habitats for many species of many species of animals and plantsanimals and plants

They provide buffer They provide buffer zones from oceanszones from oceans

They help filter out They help filter out nutrients and nutrients and pollutantspollutants

Conclusion ContinuedConclusion Continued

Marshes connect aquatic ecosystems to Marshes connect aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial ecosystemsterrestrial ecosystems

Then maintain an intricate balance that helps Then maintain an intricate balance that helps sustain many species of wildlife as well as sustain many species of wildlife as well as protect humans from our own mistakesprotect humans from our own mistakes

Without this ecosystem, results would not only Without this ecosystem, results would not only be negative in regards to the species found be negative in regards to the species found there, it would interrupt our way of life in ways there, it would interrupt our way of life in ways we can’t imaginewe can’t imagine