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Wetland types |
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Salt marshes |
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Formation |
page 2 of 7 |
Salt marshes are found in protected, flat waters and may
exist within the protection of a barrier island, estuary, or
along low-energy coastlines. Tidal, saline waters along with
freshwater from inland sources transport sediments and
nutrients necessary for the growth and formation of a marsh
system. Halophytic (tolerant of saline conditions) plants
grow and establish root systems within low-lying areas.
Sediments build up in the tangle of marsh plant roots.
Early marsh development consists of an increase of
sedimentation and continued promotion of plants. As a marsh
matures, accumulation slows and stabilizes. Several factor
affect formation of salt marshes including temperature and
rainfall, hydrologic factors like tidal inundation and wave
energy, and physical factors like elevation
and slope, sediment and soil composition, and surface water
and soil salinity. |
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