Mangrove Swamps & Salt Marshes

What makes a Mangrove Swamp? Mangrove swamps are formed when a habitat comprised of halophytic (salt tolerant) plant life come together in tropical and subtropical environments. About 110 species of plant life are adapted to the harsh conditions in mangals. Mangroves are characterized by mangled roots that are often times exposed above water, giving them the fitting nickname of “walking trees”. The roots of mangroves are specially adapted to filter the highly concentrated salt water that they reside in, and their leaves also excrete salt giving them the ability to survive where many other plant species cannot.

Life in the Mangals Mangrove forests provide an excellent habitant for both terrestrial and marine life! They provide an essential habitat for numerous species of bird, fish, and crustaceans allowing them all access to food, shelter, and nurseries.

So Who Exactly Lives There? In the US, reptilian species such as the American alligator, and crocodile along with sea turtles including the hawksbill, Ridley, green and loggerhead. Fish species include; snapper, tarpon, jack, sheepshead, and red drum. Other life in the forests include crabs and shrimp, as well as migratory and coastal shorebird such as pelicans, spoonbills and bald eagles.

Livelihood Towards Humans Mangals provide us with timber, charcoal and areas for fishing. They also provide protection from beach erosion.

What We Do in Return Human threats to mangroves include; dredging, diking, oil spills and runoff of our waste. Not to mention the destruction of these habitats for commercial development.

Mangrove Food Web

Salt Marshes A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salty or brackish water. Mainly they occur in low energy coasts and high latitude regions. Salt marshes are the replacement to mangroves, and are populated by halophytic herbs, grasses and low shrubs as opposed to salt tolerant trees.

Where are Salt Marshes? Salt marshes form on low energy coasts and in temperate environments. (low energy: areas of little wave action and high sedimentation) Examples; within the rivers of the Mississippi Delta, in New Zealand at the head of estuaries, and along the eastern coast of the US. Marsh landforms include deltaic marshes, estuarine, back barrier, open coast, embayments and drowned valley marshes.

What Distinguishes Salt Marshes? Salt marshes are distinguished from terrestrial environments by the daily tidal flow that continuously floods the area. The tidal flow is essential in delivering fresh sediments, nutrients, and plant water to the marshes. Flora and fauna in salt marshes are determined by the salinity of the soil. Generally marshes in lower zones maintain a constant salinity due to the constant tidal flow, where as in upper zones the difference in salinity is apparent as a result of less frequent flooding.

Typical Tidal Flow

High Salinity vs. Low Salinity

Food Web

Human Impacts + Restoration When commercial development began encroaching on salt marshes, they were considered “wastelands” causing a considerable loss of these ecosystems. Since then its been discovered that they are one of the most productive biological environments, second only to the rain forests. While it still requires further research, many countries around the world have begun projects to completely rebuild marshes to their natural state.

Bibliography www.floridaplants.com/horticulture/mangrove.htm about.com water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/mangrove.cfm uwf.edu/rsnyder/ffnwf/salmars/sltmars.html