The Functions and Values of Fringing Salt Marshes in Northern New England, USA

We compared the functions and values of fringing salt marshes to those of meadow marshes along the southern Maine/New Hampshire coast. Differences included soil organic matter content, plant species richness, and percent cover of high and low-marsh species. More sediment was trapped per unit area in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Estuaries and coasts 2009-05, Vol.32 (3), p.483-495
Main Authors: Morgan, Pamela A., Burdick, David M., Short, Frederick T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biodiversity
Biological and medical sciences
Brackish water ecosystems
Coastal Sciences
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Environment
Environmental Management
Estuaries
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marshes
Meadows
Plants
Salt marshes
Sediment deposition
Sedimentary soils
Sediments
Soil organic matter
Soils
Synecology
Vegetation
Water and Health
Waves
Wetlands
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Summary:We compared the functions and values of fringing salt marshes to those of meadow marshes along the southern Maine/New Hampshire coast. Differences included soil organic matter content, plant species richness, and percent cover of high and low-marsh species. More sediment was trapped per unit area in fringing marshes than in meadow marshes, but this difference was not significant.Similarities included aboveground and belowground peak season biomass and the ability to dampen wave energy.Both marsh types reduced the height of waves coming onto the marsh surface by 63% only 7 m into the marsh.Fringing marshes are diverse in terms of their physical characteristics (width, length, slope, elevation, soils).Despite their small size, they are valuable components of estuaries, performing many ecological functions to the same degree as nearby meadow marshes. More effort should be made to include them in regional efforts to conserve and restore coastal habitats.
ISSN:1559-2723
1559-2731
DOI:10.1007/s12237-009-9145-0