24 Questions
What is the purpose of setting levees back in floodplains?
To provide extra space for the river to flood and interact with, resulting in lower flood elevation
What is the function of a river bypass or oxbow?
To provide habitat and regulate water inflow and outflow
What are the functions of river floodplains?
Water buffer, sediment trapping, and interception of polluted runoff
What was the purpose of the pilot salt marsh constructed along the coast of Delfzijl?
To develop knowledge about the design and construction affects development of man-made salt marsh
How were the mats for salt marsh installation fixed during low tide?
They were rolled out on the mudflat and fixed with biodegradable pins
What is the main focus of monitoring salt marsh development?
Morphological development and biodiversity
What is the function of a levee in a floodplain?
To provide protection from storm surges
What is the purpose of relocating a levee further back in a floodplain?
To provide extra space for the river to flood and interact with, resulting in lower flood elevation
What are the benefits of rehabilitated floodplains?
Enhanced attenuation and a diversity of habitats
What is the structure of a levee in a floodplain?
Earthen structure that runs parallel to the course of a river
What is the function of a river bypass or oxbow?
To provide habitat and regulate water inflow and outflow
What is the main function of river floodplains?
Water buffer, sediment trapping, and interception of polluted runoff
What are the main types of salt marshes?
Pioneer zone, low marsh, and middle or high marsh
What is the function of planting mats in salt marsh restoration?
Facilitating the re-establishment of salt marsh species
What is the main cause of marsh deterioration in Shorter's Wharf, Chesapeake Bay?
Invasive nutria dissolving salt hay roots
What is the purpose of the 'mud motor' process in salt marsh restoration?
Mimicking natural sediment movement
What are estuaries?
Partially enclosed coastal water bodies where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean
What is the primary role of salt marshes in reducing flooding?
Building layers of deep mud and peat
What is the main function of salt marshes in relation to carbon?
Carbon sequestration
What is the characteristic of salt marshes in terms of wave energy?
Occur along low wave energy coastlines
What is the primary method for restoring hydrology to salt marshes?
Removing obstacles and restoring tidal influence
What is the outcome of using planting mats in The Netherlands' Eastern Scheldt for salt marsh restoration?
Successful growth of Spartina plants in coconut fiber mats
What is the impact of sea level rise on marsh deterioration at Shorter's Wharf?
Intensified erosion and brought storm surges closer inland
What is the main function of estuaries?
Providing protected habitat and serving as a transition from land to sea
Study Notes
Salt Marshes: Functions, Characteristics, and Conservation
- Salt marshes serve multiple functions, including carbon sequestration, wave reduction, water and air purification, sediment trapping, biodiversity support, and cooling effects.
- They are transitional coastal wetland ecosystems that flood and drain with tides, found along rivers, coasts, and estuaries, and can be salt, brackish, or freshwater tidal marshes.
- Estuaries are partially enclosed coastal water bodies where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean, providing protected habitat and serving as a transition from land to sea.
- Salt marshes occur along low wave energy coastlines, are among the most productive ecosystems on earth, and have three main types: pioneer zone, low marsh, and middle or high marsh.
- Salt marshes play a crucial role in reducing flooding, filtering pollutants, providing habitat for marine species, and serving as carbon sinks with a complex food web comprising primary producers and consumers.
- Tides supply nutrients for salt marsh plants, which over time build layers of deep mud and peat, serving as a physical barrier and protecting human habitats from flooding.
- Restoring hydrology to salt marshes involves removing obstacles, restoring tidal influence, and sediment flows to enable conditions for salt marsh development, while the "mud motor" process mimics natural sediment movement.
- The conservation project at Shorter's Wharf in Chesapeake Bay aimed to address marsh deterioration caused by invasive nutria and sea level rise, using a water:sediment ratio to rebuild the ecosystem and planting grasses to stabilize the soil.
- Nutria, an invasive rodent, caused marsh deterioration by dissolving salt hay roots, leading to marsh collapse and erosion, while sea level rise intensified erosion and brought storm surges closer inland.
- The conservation project involved a group of partners conducting experiments to stop marsh deterioration, including spraying sediment across inundated marshes and planting grasses to hold sediment in place.
- Planting mats, which involve growing plants on dense coconut mats placed in marshes, were used as a bioengineered technique for salt marsh restoration, facilitating the re-establishment of salt marsh species.
- In the Eastern Scheldt, The Netherlands, planting mats were used to re-establish pioneer salt marsh, with successful outcomes including the growth of Spartina plants in coconut fiber mats, providing coastal protection and biodiversity support.
Test your knowledge about salt marshes with this quiz on their functions, characteristics, and conservation. Explore the vital roles they play in ecosystems, their diverse types, and the measures taken to preserve and restore these valuable coastal wetlands.
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