Salt Marshes

• Salt Marsh


  An area of vegetation which is found on calm, muddy shores between roughly neap high tide mark and the spring high tide level
• Sedimentation


  Tidal currents are slowed and sediment falls out of suspension which starts to deposit material
• Accretion


  Build up of the sea or estuary bed so water will be less deep, plants will start to colonise.
• Flocculation


  The change in chemistry of the clay particles transported by rivers, causing the clay in low energy levels to combine and able to be deposited.
• Mud flats


  Further deposition happens because currents are slowed by further vegetation (halophytes) allowing more deposition.
• Lower Marsh


  Vegetation deposited and covers the soil in the lower marsh. Covered in vegetation like halophytes which can stand salty conditions
• Upper Marsh


  Cord grass traps 8-10 cm of mud a year which builds up the marsh, so the marsh rises up with less water, allowing more pants to grow
• Creek system


  As mud levels rise. creek systems develop which allows the tides to drain back to the sea and makes the land rise
• Halosere succession


  The complete succession in a saline environment
• Perennials


  Plants that are there all year round eg. ash trees