Salt Marsh in Estuaries
Salt Marshes are located near the estuaries where water varies from extremely salty to freshwater. Most estuaries are positioned near river mouths where freshwater of the river meets to the salty seawater. These places face high tidal fluctuations (Dyer). Mangrove forests are the distinct types of plankton found in the region of the intertidal precinct of tropical estuaries. The Mangrove consists of a range of various mangrove trees and plants. Marine flora and fauna of this region present high diversity and abundance. The salt marsh species are dependent on the decay of marsh plants for food and nutrients in the form of organic substances. This decaying process of the marshy detritus is facilitated by microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and small algae. Marsh plants flourish mostly in summer and spring season. During the fall season, the decomposition of marshy plants takes place that is the part of the first level marshy food chain as it becomes the food of bottom-dwellers of salt marshes including fishes, worms, crabs, and shrimps. The micro-organisms staying on the marsh bed also conduct other processes such as stabilizing the sediments and adding nutrients to it (Dyer). The native birds of Marshes are herons, egrets and red-winged black bird including several migratory birds. Mangrove forests of marshes present a significant constituent of this ecosystem that gives shelter and food to other organisms as well as provide strong protection against erosion control. In the network of mangrove roots, many animals build their homes like young fish, crabs, shrimps, and mollusks. Aquatic flora includes algae and eelgrass along with mangroves. Other marine animals include shellfish and small fish, oysters, clams and mud crabs. Moreover, mudskipper fish, spiny lobster, sea turtles, manatees, fishing cats, and monitor lizards are also found in estuaries (Dyer).
The water in marshes is highly saline, and its salinity keeps changing, so it is not easy for all the organisms to survive the estuaries. The plants and animals of estuaries require the high ability of adaptation according to the radically changing salinity of marsh. Such environmental discrepancies produce large ecological and evolutionary consequences on the organisms (Madeira 33). Animals and plants adaptable to the slight modification in salinity are known as stenohaline while the animals that have higher capabilities of tolerating extreme saline changes are termed as euryhaline. Euryhaline organisms are less in the amount in comparison of stenohaline because adaptability against extremely changing saline conditions needs a lot of energy. Various organisms have modified to survive in such conditions, and these modifications may be mutational and evolutionary. Physical changes in the form of structural modification to survive estuaries are the common evidence of evolution. For example, the smooth cordgrass has developed specific filters in its roots that help in removing the extra salts of the water influx and driving out the excessive salt using its leaves (Riley, 316-326). Cordgrass is the best example of the euryhaline organism that is mostly found in the low areas with high tidal floodings while on heading landside Spartina patens, Juncus gerardii, black rush, and shrub Iva frutescens are common species. The deep area of estuaries is scarce of oxygen and flooded with water that’s why the plants in this area need to adapt according to the small content of oxygen. Some of the attuned plants transport oxygen through specific storage cells of stems and leaves, to their roots. Eelgrass is the best example of this category that can bear the concise exposure to oxygen and survive the submerged lowest beds of estuaries (Marinebio.org). The most profuse fish species of estuaries and marshes include fundulidae, gobiidae, poeiliidae, atherinopsidae, sheephead, mugilidae, salmon, and groupers (Riley, 316-326).
Works Cited
Dyer, Keith R. Estuaries: a physical introduction.
1973.
Riley, Gordon A. "The plankton of estuaries." Estuaries 83 (1967):
316-326.
Madeira, Diana, et al. "Thermal tolerance and potential impacts of climate change on coastal and
estuarine organisms." Journal of Sea Research 70 (2012): 32-41.
Marinebio.org,. "Estuaries, Salt Marshes, And Mangroves - Marinebio.Org". N.p., 2016. Web.
27 Feb. 2016.
