California coastal salt marsh: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Mission Bay Wetlands in San Diego, California.jpg|thumb|322x322px|[https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfws_pacificsw/30209674373 Mission Bay Wetlands in San Diego, California], taken by Joanna Gilkeson and the USFWS. Public Domain Mark 1.0 (PDM 1.0).]] |
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'''California's coastal salt marsh''' is a [[wetland]] [[plant community]] that occurs sporadically along the Pacific Coast from [[Humboldt Bay (United States)|Humboldt Bay]] to [[San Diego]]. This [[salt marsh]] type is found in bays, harbors, inlets, and other protected areas subject to [[tidal flooding]]. |
'''California's coastal salt marsh''' is a [[wetland]] [[plant community]] that occurs sporadically along the Pacific Coast from [[Humboldt Bay (United States)|Humboldt Bay]] to [[San Diego]]. This [[salt marsh]] type is found in bays, harbors, inlets, and other protected areas subject to [[tidal flooding]]. |
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== Plant habitat == |
== Plant habitat == |
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== Animal habitat == |
== Animal habitat == |
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Few terrestrial animals inhabit the coastal salt marsh. One endangered mammal is the [[salt marsh harvest mouse]] (''Reithrodontomys raviventris'') which occurs in the San Francisco Bay region. Likewise, only five species of birds are resident in this habitat and four are considered rare or endangered. |
Few terrestrial animals inhabit the coastal salt marsh. One endangered mammal is the [[salt marsh harvest mouse]] (''Reithrodontomys raviventris'') which occurs in the San Francisco Bay region. Likewise, only five species of birds are resident in this habitat and four are considered rare or endangered. |
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== Preservation == |
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The California coastal salt marshes are vital [[Ecosystem|ecosystems]]. In order to best preserve and restore them, research on [[microbial communities]] and [[sediment]] have been conducted. |
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In a research study done by the Pacific Estuarine Ecosystem Indicators Research Consortium in 2006, they investigated the effects of environmental factors and [[Pollutant|pollutants]] on the microbial communities of the California coastal salt marshes. Taking samples of marshes of varying sizes, the study observed and analyzed [[Metal|metals]], [[Pesticide|pesticides]], and pollutants in the sediment over a two-year period. Results concluded that both the natural environment and pollutants of the marsh impacted sediment microbial communities; the communities were most affected by marsh size and elevation, followed by metals, then organic pollutants. Their analyses also discovered relationships between pollutant concentration and microbial indicators, suggesting that the microbial community can be analyzed to gauge marsh ecosystem health<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Córdova-Kreylos |first=Ana Lucía |last2=Cao |first2=Yiping |last3=Green |first3=Peter G. |last4=Hwang |first4=Hyun-Min |last5=Kuivila |first5=Kathryn M. |last6=LaMontagne |first6=Michael G. |last7=Van De Werfhorst |first7=Laurie C. |last8=Holden |first8=Patricia A. |last9=Scow |first9=Kate M. |date=2006-05 |title=Diversity, Composition, and Geographical Distribution of Microbial Communities in California Salt Marsh Sediments |url=https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/AEM.72.5.3357-3366.2006 |journal=Applied and Environmental Microbiology |language=en |volume=72 |issue=5 |pages=3357–3366 |doi=10.1128/AEM.72.5.3357-3366.2006 |issn=0099-2240 |pmc=PMC1472379 |pmid=16672478}}</ref>. |
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[[File:Study area map showing locations of stations in each marsh.jpg|thumb|322x322px|Map of marshes observed in a 2013 study to assess sediment quality.]] |
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Another study in 2013 aimed to assess sediment quality with the [[sediment quality triad]], which assesses concentrations of toxic chemicals, toxicity, and structure of benthic [[invertebrate]] communities, and any changes to biological attributes in marsh species. After observing several marshes of varying levels of [[contamination]], as well as two control marshes, the study found significant biological differences in two species, the [[longjaw mudsucker]] (''Gillichthys mirabilis'') and the [[Pachygrapsus crassipes|lined shore crab]] (''Pachygrapsus crassipes''), between contaminated and non-contaminated marshes. Notable differences were found in crab [[embryo]] abnormalities and benthic invertebrate diversity. The study ultimately found that incorporating the observation of sublethal responses in marsh species under field conditions, particularly lined shore crabs and longjaw mudsuckers, could enhance the sediment quality triad, and provide a more comprehensive assessment of California salt marsh's sediment quality overall<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hwang |first=Hyun-Min |last2=Carr |first2=R. Scott |last3=Cherr |first3=Gary N. |last4=Green |first4=Peter G. |last5=Grosholz |first5=Edwin D. |last6=Judah |first6=Linda |last7=Morgan |first7=Steven G. |last8=Ogle |first8=Scott |last9=Rashbrook |first9=Vanessa K. |last10=Rose |first10=Wendy L. |last11=Teh |first11=Swee J. |last12=Vines |first12=Carol A. |last13=Anderson |first13=Susan L. |date=2013-06-01 |title=Sediment quality assessment in tidal salt marshes in northern California, USA: An evaluation of multiple lines of evidence approach |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969713002210 |journal=Science of The Total Environment |volume=454-455 |pages=189–198 |doi=10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.02.039 |issn=0048-9697}}</ref>. |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Revision as of 08:51, 24 October 2023
California's coastal salt marsh is a wetland plant community that occurs sporadically along the Pacific Coast from Humboldt Bay to San Diego. This salt marsh type is found in bays, harbors, inlets, and other protected areas subject to tidal flooding.
Plant habitat
Plant species in this community are halophytes adapted to the saline conditions and low oxygen content typically found in the water-saturated soils. As a result of the demanding conditions, species diversity is relatively low.
Typical plant species in this community include:[1]
- Salt grass (Distichlis spicata)
- Franconia (Frankenia salina)
- Pickleweed and glasswort (Salicornia spp.)
- Cordgrass (Spartina foliosa)
- Seep weed (Suaeda californica)
Plants occur in bands that are determined by the amount of submergence a species can tolerate. Most tolerant of submergence is cordgrass which has a hollow stem that allows oxygen to reach its roots . Further inland, pickleweeds and glassworts are predominant where their roots are flooded only during the highest tides. The salt-marsh bird's-beak (Cordylanthus maritimus) is an endangered plant species that occurs in this habitat.
Even though the coastal marshes lack species diversity as a whole, there are differing plants between the marshes themselves. Vegetation structure and function can differ due to intertidal zone location, tidal movements of the marsh, and soil salinity.[2]
Animal habitat
Few terrestrial animals inhabit the coastal salt marsh. One endangered mammal is the salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris) which occurs in the San Francisco Bay region. Likewise, only five species of birds are resident in this habitat and four are considered rare or endangered.
Preservation
The California coastal salt marshes are vital ecosystems. In order to best preserve and restore them, research on microbial communities and sediment have been conducted.
In a research study done by the Pacific Estuarine Ecosystem Indicators Research Consortium in 2006, they investigated the effects of environmental factors and pollutants on the microbial communities of the California coastal salt marshes. Taking samples of marshes of varying sizes, the study observed and analyzed metals, pesticides, and pollutants in the sediment over a two-year period. Results concluded that both the natural environment and pollutants of the marsh impacted sediment microbial communities; the communities were most affected by marsh size and elevation, followed by metals, then organic pollutants. Their analyses also discovered relationships between pollutant concentration and microbial indicators, suggesting that the microbial community can be analyzed to gauge marsh ecosystem health[3].
Another study in 2013 aimed to assess sediment quality with the sediment quality triad, which assesses concentrations of toxic chemicals, toxicity, and structure of benthic invertebrate communities, and any changes to biological attributes in marsh species. After observing several marshes of varying levels of contamination, as well as two control marshes, the study found significant biological differences in two species, the longjaw mudsucker (Gillichthys mirabilis) and the lined shore crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes), between contaminated and non-contaminated marshes. Notable differences were found in crab embryo abnormalities and benthic invertebrate diversity. The study ultimately found that incorporating the observation of sublethal responses in marsh species under field conditions, particularly lined shore crabs and longjaw mudsuckers, could enhance the sediment quality triad, and provide a more comprehensive assessment of California salt marsh's sediment quality overall[4].
See also
References
- ^ (Ornduff 2003)
- ^ B., Zedler, Joy (1982). "The ecology of southern California coastal salt marshes: a community profile".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Córdova-Kreylos, Ana Lucía; Cao, Yiping; Green, Peter G.; Hwang, Hyun-Min; Kuivila, Kathryn M.; LaMontagne, Michael G.; Van De Werfhorst, Laurie C.; Holden, Patricia A.; Scow, Kate M. (2006-05). "Diversity, Composition, and Geographical Distribution of Microbial Communities in California Salt Marsh Sediments". Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 72 (5): 3357–3366. doi:10.1128/AEM.72.5.3357-3366.2006. ISSN 0099-2240. PMC 1472379. PMID 16672478.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: PMC format (link) - ^ Hwang, Hyun-Min; Carr, R. Scott; Cherr, Gary N.; Green, Peter G.; Grosholz, Edwin D.; Judah, Linda; Morgan, Steven G.; Ogle, Scott; Rashbrook, Vanessa K.; Rose, Wendy L.; Teh, Swee J.; Vines, Carol A.; Anderson, Susan L. (2013-06-01). "Sediment quality assessment in tidal salt marshes in northern California, USA: An evaluation of multiple lines of evidence approach". Science of The Total Environment. 454–455: 189–198. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.02.039. ISSN 0048-9697.
- Ornduff, Robert. (2003) Introduction to California Plant Life. Revised by Phyllis M. Faber and Todd Keeler-Wolf. University of California Press.
- Schoenherr, Allan A. (1992) A Natural History of California. University of California Press.