Found
worldwide along coastlines, salt marshes are some of the
most productive ecosystems. They occur in areas protected
from wave action and destructive forces of storms. Salt
marsh plants are rooted to withstand the continuous cycle of
inundating and dewatering caused by the flow of tides.
Salt marshes can have 2 zones. The lower marsh is subject to
the effects of daily tides and is regularly covered by water and then exposed. It is predominantly
vegetated by the tall form of smooth cordgrass. The upper
marsh is covered by water
only sporadically, and is
characterized by short smooth cordgrass, spike grass, and
black grass.
 See
a salt marsh.
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