The role of salt marshes in the coastal system Essay

The role of salinity marshes in the coastal system - Essay ExampleSince salt marshes are shallow areas, the plants that exist in salt marshes are those that can adapt to the tidal changes in the ledger of water. The water waves that make it to the salt marshes carry with them tons of organic material which accumulate overtime to leap peat. There are many varieties of salt marshes namely low marsh, high marsh, panes and pools and upland border. Apart from providing duncish vegetation, salt marshes are also amongst the most productive ecosystems in the world (New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, 2004). post of Salt Marshes in the Coastal System Salt marshes are sometimes referred to as tidal marshes, the cogitate being that salt marshes are found in zones between high and low tide. Salt marshes brandish well along the coastal areas because the vegetation is not sturdy enough to withstand strong waves, thence towards the coastal areas, where the intensity of the waves is reduced to quite an extent, salt marshes thrive (Casagrande, 1997). Salt marshes serve many purposes, namely they cleanse pollutants from marine water, provide a habitat to many marine species, provide a parapet against soil erosion, provide a source of refuge for the vulnerable marine species, salt marshes are voluminous in organic matter therefore they form a food chain for the marine brio and also provide good nutrient value for the vegetation in the salt marshes (Department of Environmental guard Florida Marine Reseach Institute, 2010). Let us throw some light on the varied roles of salt marshes require Pollutants from the Water Since the speed of the waves reduces considerably by the time they reach salt marshes, many suspended particles that are otherwise carried outside by the waves throughout the sea, track down to settle. These suspended particles sometimes comprise of toxic nutrients from serviceman activities, thus by allowing them to settle the salt marsh es play a key role in groom the water of toxic sediments. The thick vegetation helps in slowing down the waves which in turn causes the particles to settle. Furthermore, during the months of spend and spring the salt marshes plants take up the nutrients which if left in the water, would turn into algae, further polluting the water by causing Eutrophication and thus depleting the oxygen supply of the water (Cloern, 2007). The toxic contaminants which are settled by the salt marshes form peat which results in the removal of these toxic substances from the marine food web. Moreover, the microbes present in the salt marshes tend to remove atomic number 7 from the ecosystem (Edwards, 2010). This is beneficial even to the surrounding grass wrack. The reason behind this is that the existence of high levels of nitrogen encourages the growth of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton refers to microscopic organisms that live in water (Lindsey, 2010). This phytoplankton, when in excess blocks the su nlight which is needed for eelgrass to thrive. Therefore, the presence of salt marshes also benefits eelgrass. Harbour Marine Food Chains The excessive nutrients found in the salt marshes form food chains for marine species. Primarily, the plant matter that partially decays in the salt marshes forms a good source of food for marine species in the deeper waters. This decayed vegetation is taken away by the tidal waves into the ocean where it becomes the food of many marine animals. A two way member runs between aquatic