The Functions and Values of Fringing Salt Marshes in Northern New England, USA

• Published in: Estuaries and coasts Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 483 - 495
• Main Authors: Morgan, Pamela A., Burdick, David M., Short, Frederick T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Spring Science + Business Media 01.05.2009; Springer-Verlag; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish water ecosystems; Coastal Sciences; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Environment; Environmental Management; Estuaries; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marshes; Meadows; Plants; Salt marshes; Sediment deposition; Sedimentary soils; Sediments; Soil organic matter; Soils; Synecology; Vegetation; Water and Health; Waves; Wetlands; United States; North America; Massachusetts; America; ANW, USA, New Hampshire; ANW, USA, New England; ANW, USA, Maine; Fringe marsh; Gulf of Maine; Vegetation; Meadow marsh; Estuaries; Salt marsh; Brackish water environment; New England
• ISSN: 1559-2723; 1559-2731
• DOI: 10.1007/s12237-009-9145-0

We compared the functions and values of fringing salt marshes to those of meadow marshes along the southern Maine/New Hampshire coast. Differences included soil organic matter content, plant species richness, and percent cover of high and low-marsh species. More sediment was trapped per unit area in fringing marshes than in meadow marshes, but this difference was not significant.Similarities included aboveground and belowground peak season biomass and the ability to dampen wave energy.Both marsh types reduced the height of waves coming onto the marsh surface by 63% only 7 m into the marsh.Fringing marshes are diverse in terms of their physical characteristics (width, length, slope, elevation, soils).Despite their small size, they are valuable components of estuaries, performing many ecological functions to the same degree as nearby meadow marshes. More effort should be made to include them in regional efforts to conserve and restore coastal habitats.