The Importance of Salt Marshes for

Biodiversity
The importance and use of salt Examples
How and where salt marshes
marshes
are formed:
Salt marshes are coastal wetlands that are Salt marshes are important habitats for
flooded and drained by salt water brought many rare species of plants and animal
adapted to living in an environment that Chichester
in by the tides. They are found between
is regularly covered by tides. They are Harbour
land and open water that is regularly
frequently grazed by livestock, either for Salt Marsh,
flooded by tides. They begin to form when
premium quality meat or for conservation UK
mud and silt are deposited along a
sheltered part of the coastline, as purposes. Salt marshes also buffer the
deposition occurs here due to lack energy erosive effects of wave energy and
in the waves. For example, salt marshes
Vegetation succession protect the land behind it from flooding. Hunter
often form on the inside of a coastal spit. Focusing on a specific species, around River
Over time, the deposition continues and At the beginning of the growth of plants on half of British redshank (a species of bird) Estuary,
causes mudflats to form. Following this mudflat, pioneers begin to colonise the area breed on salt marshes, making the Australia
some plants will begin to grow, with the (eg. Cordgrass) which are able to tolerate salt habitat extremely important for the
first plant typically being Cordgrass. These and periodic submergence by sea. These are species. However, studies have shown
plants are called pioneer plants that are known as halophytes. The pioneers gradually that there has been a 53% decline in
tolerant to seawater, with their long roots develop close vegetation over the mud and nesting redshank pairs between 1983
also helping to hold the mud and sediment this allows colonisation by other plants such and 2011 due to increased predation and Threats to salt marshes
together. As flooding continues, due to the as marsh grass and sea lavender. These form increased frequency of storm events
sediment and material accumulating, the a dense mat of vegetation up to 15cm high. meaning that nests are more likely to be One threat to salt marshes is climate
mudflat gets covered by the tide less and The growth of vegetation has the effect of flooded. In addition, cattle grazing can change and more specifically sea level
this along with rain will wash out some of slowing the tide further and together with the lead to trampling of redshank nests. rise. Rising sea levels mean that if salt
the salt. As the salt is no lower in vegetation’s ability to trap particles, leads to Therefore it is evident how important the marshes do not have fast enough
concentration, it means more plants can more mud and silt accumulation. Dead state of salt marshes is for biodiversity sediment accretion rates to keep up with
start grow in the more fertile soil. Over organic matter also helps to build up the such as for the British redshank. rising sea levels, they will be submerged
time, the vegetation in the salt marsh will surface, which grows in height at up to 25mm Furthermore, they provide shelter, food and converted to open water. Despite
develop, and this development is known as per year. As the marsh becomes higher, creek and nursery grounds for more than 75% this, studies in the UK suggest that
vegetation succession. systems form that channel the tides and of coastal fisheries species such as marshes are gaining elevation at rates
hollows may form where seawater becomes shrimp and crab, further highlighting comparable to sea level rise. There are
trapped and evaporates. As the land rises their importance as a habitat for also threats to ecosystems and
above sea level, rushes and reeds become numerous species. biodiversity in salt marshes by fishing
established and eventually trees (eg. Oak) and invasive species that are not