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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
A saltwater marsh is a specific ecosystem with benefits to humans and the environment. A low-lying, nearly level coastal grassland governed by the seasons and the tides, saltwater marshes are one of the most productive areas in the world. They are found on the edges of estuaries which, unlike swamps, are more shallow. Estuaries are the places where rivers meet oceans, and are enjoyed by people for homes, fishing, hunting, swimming, and for wildlife observation. Saltwater marshes have the benefits of filtering estuary water of sediment and toxins and acting as storm surge protection for more diverse upland regions.<ref> New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services- Coastal Program. Document number WMB-CP-06, 2004. “What is a Salt Marsh?” Weblink: http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/cp/cp-06.html </ref> <ref>Defenders of Wildlife © Copyright 2008. Webpage: Wildlife and Habitat. “Wetlands Factsheet.” Weblink: http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/habitat/wetlands.php | A saltwater marsh is a specific ecosystem with benefits to humans and the environment. A low-lying, nearly level coastal grassland governed by the seasons and the tides, saltwater marshes are one of the most productive areas in the world. They are found on the edges of estuaries which, unlike swamps, are more shallow. Estuaries are the places where rivers meet oceans, and are enjoyed by people for homes, fishing, hunting, swimming, and for wildlife observation. Saltwater marshes have the benefits of filtering estuary water of sediment and toxins and acting as storm surge protection for more diverse upland regions.<ref> New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services- Coastal Program. Document number WMB-CP-06, 2004. “What is a Salt Marsh?” Weblink: http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/cp/cp-06.html </ref> <ref>Defenders of Wildlife © Copyright 2008. Webpage: Wildlife and Habitat. “Wetlands Factsheet.” Weblink: http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/habitat/wetlands.php | ||
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Arcata's saltwater marshes are reinstated so are not naturally-occuring, but contain typical grasses and organisms. Also typical is this ecosystems original destruction by human settlement. Unlike many saltwater marshes, the Arcata/Eureka saltwater marshes aren't used as protection for the inland areas from storm surges because of the protected bay.<ref>Wikipedia.com: Humboldt Bay http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Bay_(United_States)</ref> | Arcata's saltwater marshes are reinstated so are not naturally-occuring, but contain typical grasses and organisms. Also typical is this ecosystems original destruction by human settlement. Unlike many saltwater marshes, the Arcata/Eureka saltwater marshes aren't used as protection for the inland areas from storm surges because of the protected bay.<ref>Wikipedia.com: Humboldt Bay http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Bay_(United_States)</ref> | ||
[[Image: Arcata Saltwater Marshes.jpg|right|800px]] | |||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Revision as of 03:18, 10 May 2008
Template:115inprogress Template:Top
Introduction
A saltwater marsh is a specific ecosystem with benefits to humans and the environment. A low-lying, nearly level coastal grassland governed by the seasons and the tides, saltwater marshes are one of the most productive areas in the world. They are found on the edges of estuaries which, unlike swamps, are more shallow. Estuaries are the places where rivers meet oceans, and are enjoyed by people for homes, fishing, hunting, swimming, and for wildlife observation. Saltwater marshes have the benefits of filtering estuary water of sediment and toxins and acting as storm surge protection for more diverse upland regions.[1] [2]
Arcata's saltwater marshes are reinstated so are not naturally-occuring, but contain typical grasses and organisms. Also typical is this ecosystems original destruction by human settlement. Unlike many saltwater marshes, the Arcata/Eureka saltwater marshes aren't used as protection for the inland areas from storm surges because of the protected bay.[3]
Overview
Arcata's Saltwater Marshes are part of the Arcata Marsh system in that they serve as a refuge for species of birds and other animals that are enjoyed by watchers. See Figure 1 for a layout of the saltwater marshes in this overview of the Marsh system.
Marsh Background
Marshes are daily and seasonally affected by water-level changes causing effects in salinity, temperature, and water depth; thus oxygen content and general growing environment are changing considerations for inhabitants. Temperature affects oxygen content via increased or decreased gas solubility and via biological activity. Increased salinity further decreases oxygen handling of water. Temperature and salinity changes from tidal influx slows growth. Seasonal fresh water influx delays to seasonal tidal influx by a few months in the Spring, causing an elongated period of cooling of the ecosystem. This occurs during the Spring seasons productive plant growth. [4][5]
Water flows slowly in the marsh due to gradual slopes and plant/organism networks, so sediment is deposited. Sediment deposits build up enough to support plant species that otherwise wouldn't grow in saltwater marshes. Sediment can consist of organic matter (salt marsh peat). The sediment is however low in nutrient content, being depleted of nitrogen by microbes. It is high in cellulose, however, which is doubled in protein density when it is broken down. [6]
Plant and animal roles
A few grass types grow in lower and upper marsh zones, which are characterized by salt and under-water tolerance. They are able to excrete salt from their leaf surfaces, and some send salt to their extremities which break off at the end of each growing season. These grasses are able to exchange oxygen to and from roots, which are underwater, by means of their aerenchymal (airy, gas-exchanging root) tissue. Further aiding gas exchange in some species is a mechanism for sending salt to the roots/stems, where it's higher concentration than the surrounding water enables osmosis of water into roots.[7]
Organisms such as marine mollusks and other animals consume primary producers and consumers. Their feces, rich in nitrogen, helps fertilize the marsh grasses.
Concerns and the Future
Over half of the nation's people now live and work within coastal counties. Their cumulative impact can be significant on salt water marshes. Destruction can be caused by filling of marshes for new homes, ditching to control mosquitos, diking to create impoundments and building canals for flood control. In Arcata's case, European settlement contributed to 90% saltwater marsh destruction. Since 1980, 50 new acres have been reinstated with a new marsh to be built from funds from the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program on 75 acres.[8][9] [10]
In the news
2007: A new study reveals that a salwater marsh island near New York City could vanish within the next 5 years due to sewage dumping.[11]
2001: Researchers find evidence that potentially hazardous fecal bacteria from seagulls could pollute recreational beaches in California. Saltwater marshes, a seagull habitat known to filter pollutants from the environment, may be flowing too quikly to effectively filter the pollutant.[12]
2000: Drought causing record low water levels in the Mississippi River combine with unusually low summer tides in Lousiana to cause saltwater marsh conversion to mud-flats. The solution, according to the Governor, is in monitoring wetland conditions and optimizing management of available fresh water.[13]
Sources
- ↑ New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services- Coastal Program. Document number WMB-CP-06, 2004. “What is a Salt Marsh?” Weblink: http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/cp/cp-06.html
- ↑ Defenders of Wildlife © Copyright 2008. Webpage: Wildlife and Habitat. “Wetlands Factsheet.” Weblink: http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/habitat/wetlands.php
- ↑ Wikipedia.com: Humboldt Bay http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Bay_(United_States)
- ↑ U.S. Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, Division of Educational Programs. NEWTON: an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators. ‘Ask a Scientist’ section, discussion webpage. Weblink: http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01463.htm
- ↑ Journal of Coastal Research, Northern Ireland. ISSN 0749-0208 Weblink: http://www.science.ulst.ac.uk/ics2002/moller%20and%20spencer.pdf
- ↑ Tramline Inc.- “Salt Marshes Field Trip” Copyright © 1996-2007. Weblink: http://www.field-trips.org/sci/salt
- ↑ Humboldt State University ERE Department. Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary Webpage: “Saltwater Vegetation.” Weblink: http://www.humboldt.edu/~ere_dept/marsh/saltveg.html
- ↑ Orlando Sentinel, Rob Young, Feb 24, 2008. "A bleak future for Saltwater Marshes" Weblink
- ↑ Planet Ark.com, Jan. 17, 2005. "Green Groups Hope Suit Forces US Hand on Warming" by Timothy Gardner. Weblink: http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29018/story.htm
- ↑ Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center
- ↑ Discovery Communications, LLC DBA Treehugger.com © 2008. “Could NYC's Saltwater Marshes Disappear Within the Next Five Years?” by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles, August 3rd, 2007. Weblink: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/08/could_nycs_saltwater_marshes.php
- ↑ American Chemical Society (2001, June 4) ScienceDaily LLC Copyright © 1995-2008, Web article: “Unusual Source Of Ocean Water Contamination May Rewrite Environmental Textbooks.” Weblink: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010529235649.htm
- ↑ LaCoast website maintained by USGS National Wetlands Research Center, funded by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) of 1990. (Lousiana) “Governor's Saltwater Marsh Die-Off Action Plan Executive Order No. MJF 2000 - 41.” Weblink: http://www.lacoast.gov/news/press/2000-11-07a/index.htm
Credits
Created by Aaron Parker, ERE 115 student, Humboldt State University