saltmarshes
Tidal grass flats
Saltmarshes are coastal wetlands that flood regularly with seawater, typically found in sheltered areas like estuaries and behind barrier islands.
These ecosystems support distinctive salt-tolerant grasses and plants, providing critical habitat for birds, fish, and invertebrates.
Saltmarshes also serve as natural buffers against storm surges and help filter pollutants from water.
The saltmarshes along the coast attract thousands of migratory birds each year.
Dissolved mineral concentration
- cordgrassSalt-tolerant marsh vegetation
- spartinaSalt-tolerant marsh grass
- pickleweedSalt marsh succulent
- brineWater saturated with sodium
saline · glasswort · samphire · hypersaline · sulfide · anoxic
Land-water boundary
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- intertidalZone between high and low watermarks
- littoralRelating to seashores
- foreshoreIntertidal coastal zone
mudflat · creek · channel · lagoon · delta · inlet · bay · spit
Coastal avian foragers
- egretWhite wading bird
- heronLong-legged waterside bird
- railHorizontal support bar
- ternFork-tailed ocean bird
oystercatcher · curlew · redshank · migratory · nesting · killifish · terrapin · invertebrates
Gradual retreat seaward
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- flood-tideIncoming tidal surge
- slack-waterPause between tidal movements
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
submersion · drainage · zonation · pools
Returning something to condition
- protectionGuarding against harm
- erosionGradual wearing away
- subsidenceGradual ground sinking
- diebackPlant tissue dying progressively
reclamation · mitigation · degradation · eutrophication · pollution · dredging · preservation
Loose waste from decay
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- peatWaterlogged decomposed vegetation
- microhabitatSmall distinct living area
filter-feeding · methane · productivity · biomass · trophic
salinity
Dissolved mineral concentration
- cordgrassSalt-tolerant marsh vegetation
- spartinaSalt-tolerant marsh grass
- pickleweedSalt marsh succulent
brine · saline · glasswort · samphire · hypersaline · sulfide · anoxic
shoreline
Land-water boundary
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- intertidalZone between high and low watermarks
- littoralRelating to seashores
foreshore · mudflat · creek · channel · lagoon · delta · inlet · bay · spit · dunes
shorebirds
Coastal avian foragers
tern · oystercatcher · curlew · redshank · migratory · nesting · killifish · terrapin · invertebrates · mollusks
ebb
Gradual retreat seaward
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- flood-tideIncoming tidal surge
- slack-waterPause between tidal movements
inundation · submersion · drainage · zonation · pools
restoration
Returning something to condition
- protectionGuarding against harm
- erosionGradual wearing away
- subsidenceGradual ground sinking
dieback · reclamation · mitigation · degradation · eutrophication · pollution · dredging · preservation
detritus
Loose waste from decay
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- peatWaterlogged decomposed vegetation
microhabitat · filter-feeding · methane · productivity · biomass · trophic
saltmarshesfreshwater marshes
Non-ocean wetland ecosystems
bogs · fens · peatlands · prairie potholes
saltmarshesdeserts
Abandons or barren lands
arid lands · drylands · salt flats · scrublands · steppes
saltmarshesuplands
Elevated inland terrain
highlands · mountains · mountain peaks · mountain meadows · plateaus