coastal wetland
Tidal marsh ecosystem
A coastal wetland is a low-lying area where land meets saltwater or brackish water—marshes, mangroves, tidal flats, and estuaries.
These ecosystems absorb storm surges, filter pollutants, and serve as nurseries for fish and shellfish.
Developers filled in the coastal wetlands to build condos.
Hurricane damage was worse where coastal wetlands had been destroyed.
- salt marshCoastal wetland with halophytes
- marsh grassPlants of waterlogged lowlands
- tidal flatPeriodically submerged coastal plain
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- lagoonSheltered coastal shallows
intertidal zone · tidal flow · storm surge · sea level rise · coastal erosion · fiddler crab · mud crab · carbon storage · oysters · spartina · brackish water · mudflat · cordgrass · water filtration · crab · egret · mangrove · fishing grounds
- coastal featuresshore, beach, bay, cliff, cove
- coastal landformsbeach, beaches, cliff, cliffs, shore
- coastscliffs, shoreline, sandy shore, coves, bays
- crocodile habitatsswamp, swamps, marsh, marshes, rivers
- natural habitatsforest, jungle, swamp, marsh, coral reef
- wetlandsswamp, swamps, marsh, marshes, marshland