Salt Marsh Habitats

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Salt Marsh Habitats
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The grasses of a coastal lagoon or marsh serve
as a habitat, providing food and shelter to a
diverse array of organisms including insects,
birds, and fish.
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Roots and plant fibers of salt marsh grasses
also stabilize bottom sediments which greatly
decrease the rate of erosion.
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Damage to the salt marsh can cause problems
throughout the larger wetland ecosystem.
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When people use fertilizers on their lawns or
farms that are located near streams or rivers
that empty into the wetlands, too many nutrients
may be dumped into the wetland area.
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This buildup of nutrients is called
eutrophication. When eutrophication occurs,
large algae and phytoplankton grow better than
the sea grasses. These other organisms block
sunlight from sea grasses.
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The sea grass beds may get much smaller or be
completely destroyed.
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When sea grass beds are damaged, the
availability of the marsh/lagoon to provide
shelter and food for the many organisms that grow
in that habitat. Erosion is more likely without
the sea grasses to stabilize the sediment.
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Natural events like hurricanes can also damage
salt marsh ecosystems.
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Hurricanes and the accompanying storm surge can
tear up the marshes and lagoons, ripping up sea
grass beds.
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This may overload the resulting area with a mass
of nutrients that then cause growth of algae or
other organisms that disallow re-growth of sea
grasses.
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If salt marshes are damaged, many insects,
birds, fish, plants, and even gators will have to
find a new place to live!It is important for us
to work to preserve our salt marsh wetlands!
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Salt Marsh Habitats Quiz
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What is a salt marsh? A an inland swamp
with lots of dissolved minerals in the water B a
wetland dominated by sea grasses at the edge of a
body of saltwater C an island habitat in the
center of the ocean D a desert oasis habitat
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Sea grasses do NOT provide which of the
following A a food source for birds, fish,
insects B shelter for young fish C protection
from lightening D reduced levels of erosion
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Sea grasses help prevent erosion by A
slowing water flow B mixing nutrients with
sediment C sending roots into the sediment D
providing shade for insects
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Damage to the salt marsh can cause problems
throughout the larger wetland ecosystem. A
True B False
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Having extra nutrients in the water from
fertilizer runoff helps sea grasses grow. A
True B False
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Which of the following is NOT a problem of
eutrophication? A algae grow more easily B sea
grasses lose the competition for nutrients C sea
grasses have stronger growth D phytoplankton
overgrowth prevents sunlight reaching sea grasses
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Eutrophication means A an abundance of large
animals in an ecosystem. B a lack of nutrients
in water ecosystems C an overgrowth of
insects D an overabundance of nutrients in water
that upsets the ecosystem.
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If sea grasses are destroyed, other plants are
able to grow that are more suitable to the health
of the ecosystem. A True B False
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Hurricanes can help the salt marsh ecosystem by
cleaning out old growth. A True B False
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Which of the following is NOT an organism that
is commonly found in a salt marsh? A blue
heron B spartina grass C oak tree D periwinkle
snail