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| Types of Wetlands | |
 What are Wetlands?
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Salt Water Wetlands Wetlands can be composed of water that is fresh, brackish or salty. Some examples of Salty Wetlands include; Salt Water marshes, Sand Flats, Rocky Sea
Shores, Sandy Sea Shores, Mangroves, and Barrier Islands The Rocky Sea Shore, common along the coasts of California, Oregon,Washington,
the Great Lake Shores, and the Northeast Atlantic region is a high energy environment
where the bedrock surfaces of large, stable rock fragments lie exposed to the tides and
waves of the ocean. These areas generally support a large variety of algae, lichens,
mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, fishes, nesting birds and marine mammals. The Sandy Sea Shoredominates the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic
coast, and Southern California. Sandy Sea Shore wetlands can be either in the shape of
beaches, sand bars,and sand flats. They are formed by erosion and are shaped by waves,
winds, and currents. Beaches, bars and flats are usually sparsely vegetated, although
barrier islands( a form of bar) may maintain substantial vegetation in the higher
elevations. The sandy shore is home to a variety of plants and animals such as crabs,
insects, worms, clams, fishes, wading and migratory birds, and nesting Sea Turtles. Estuaries form where Rivers enter the sea. Estuaries are generally inhabited by a wide range of plant and animal species. The Estuarine environment is known for its richness and as a nursery for many different animals. For example, most of the Blue Crabs in the Atlantic begin their life cycle protected by the gentle, brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The Salt content of the water in an estuary can change rapidly, so the inhabitants of the estuarine ecosystem must be able to adapt quickly to changing salinity. Mangroves are a characteristic estuarine habitat. Approximately 80 species of plants are recognized as being mangroves. They all share a variety of adaptations that enable them to survive and grow in the unstable conditions of estuaries. |
