1. Development Structure Common Plants and Adaptations
Salt Marsh
Development
Structure
Common Plants and Adaptations

2. Development of a New England Salt Marsh

3. Establishment of a salt marsh
Low energy environment
Accumulation of fine sediments
Colonized by marsh plants

4. Spartina alterniflora
Early colonizer also known as a pioneer species
Binds anoxic mud together stabilizing the sediment
Found along water’s edge but not submerged completely
Halophytic

6. Marsh hay
Spartina patens

7. Spikegrass
Distichlis spicata
Glasswort
Salicornia europaea
These two species are common to recently disturbed locations in the mid marsh.
Good colonizers and tolerant of anoxic mud and high salinity.

8. Common weedy plants in high marsh
Marsh goldenrod
Salidago semperviens
Marsh aster
Aster tenuifolius
Common weedy plants in high marsh
Competition limits their distribution
Sea lavender
Limonium nashii

9. Phragmites – usually the outer border of upper marsh

10. What is causing these patterns?

13. Mechanisms for Salt Tolerance

16. Salt Marsh Snail

17. Fiddler Crab

19. Mud Snail

20. Salt Marsh Meiofauna