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Tidal Salt MarshesNova Scotia’s treasures in the mud
Jen Frail-GauthierDalhousie UniversityDecember 17, 2014
What is a tidal salt marsh?
Zonation – marine to terrestrial
The influence of Tides
Salt Marsh Zones
• Mudflat– Tide 2x daily– No grasses– Algal films – Lots of marine
fauna– Birds love it!– The youngest
Salt Marsh Zones
• Low Marsh– Tide 2x daily– Cord grass (Spartina
alterniflora) – Marine species
dominate– Soft sediment like
the mudflat
Salt Marsh Zones
• High and Mid marsh– Only covered at highest
tides– Channels and barren
areas– Salt marsh hay (Spartina
patens) and many other plants
– Terrestrial animal species– Highly rooted and
organic sediment
Salt Marsh Zones
• High Transition zone– Rarely inundated
with tidal water– Freshwater runoff– Mature terrestrial
plants and shrubs– Terrestrial animals – Highly rooted and
organic sediment
Plants and animals THRIVE(they don’t just survive)
1. Why is the marsh so harsh?
2. What do plants and animals to do survive and thrive here?
The Importance of Salt Marshes
Services of Salt Marshes
• 70% of commercial fish use them!• Food/nesting sites for birds!• Bacteria break down wastes• Natural filtration systems• Absorb water and energy from storms
The Importance of Wetlands
Blue Carbon
Salt Marsh Threats
Did you know:Only 1% of the grass production is
directly consumed --- where does this energy go?
Treasures in the Mud
What can YOU find, and is there a pattern?
1. Split into FOUR groups to examine a washed sample of mudflat, low, middle and high marsh sediment under the dissecting microscope
2. Look for the organisms on the ID keys
3. What kinds of animals do you see? How many of them are there?
• LOOK, ID, RECORD
4. Compare your results with the rest of the class to look at all the zones– are they different?
