Closer to the shoreline, the ebb and flood of daily tides creates zones:
* The Lower Marsh is often submerged under saltwater, and supports the growth of organisms adapted to high salinity and lots of moisture.
* The Upper Marsh is a drier area, where plants tolerate lower salt concentrations.
* The salt pans are small depressions that trap and hold water from a high tide.
* The highest edges of the marsh are only reached by extremely high tides, such as during a storm.
Salt marshes are important for many reasons. Hidden within the tangle of salt marsh plants are animals in various stages of life. Young fish often have a varied diet, foraging for food in the muds of the marsh bottom and on smaller organisms. As salt marsh plants die and decompose, they create organic detritus, another food source for many marsh dwellers. Tidal waters move up into the marsh and then retreat, ristributing detritus throughout the salt marsh.
Salt marsh systems are dynamic, constantly changing. Society, however, emphasizes stability and permanence. As a result, many salt marshes have been drained or filled with silt, sand, and refuse to an elevation at which they can no longer survive. Over half of our original salt marshes in the United States have been destroyed. Most of that destruction was due to filling of marshes to create more land area for homes, industry and agriculture. Fortunately, people are beginning to realize the importance of these habitats. Federal and state laws and regulations now reflect an appreciation by the general public for the function and value of marshes.
To log this Earthcache:
1. You will need to visit within an hour of low tide. You can check the tide Here
In your own words, describe The geology of this marsh, and how you think it was formed.
Did building this bridge change the geology of this marsh? If so, how?
You will need to identify five (5) types of plant and animal life that you see in this marsh. There must be at least one type of Bird, and three (3) different Aquatic Animals.
Email me the list of wildlife you saw and identified while here.
