s2ary
09-07-2007, 08:03 PM
Salt Marsh Ecology
Wetlands are New England’s most common type of open space. While local, state, and federal regulations now protect wetlands, in the past society considered them to be wastelands that were good for nothing but mosquitoes. Acres and acres of wetlands were filled and used for farming or building. Since Colonial times, the nation has lost over 50% of its wetlands.
• Salt marshes are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. A healthy marsh produces 4 times more biomass per acre than the best corn field.
• 730 tides per year flush these nutrients from a salt marsh out into the coastal waters
• 98% of coastal fishes and shellfish use salt marshes as nursery habitats. In Northern New England only two of these fish species regularly use high marsh portions of a salt marsh, all of the rest hide and feed in the vast channel and rill systems
• 59% of the total soluble and particulate nutrients (detritus) in the coastal waters come from salt marshes
• 90% of the total salt marsh productivity is exported in the form of fish biomass.
Take a minute to think about these last two statements. 59% of the nutrients in the near shore waters come out of only 10% of a salt marshes total productivity. Not only that, but we have lost over 50% of our salt marshes, what was the productivity like 400 years ago?
The figures were taken from 3 different sources and when cross referenced they do not match perfectly, but they are close enough for the chicks we date. :lol: By fish they are refering to all nekton sources including clams worms etc. Salt marshes are by far our nations most precious resource.
Wetlands are New England’s most common type of open space. While local, state, and federal regulations now protect wetlands, in the past society considered them to be wastelands that were good for nothing but mosquitoes. Acres and acres of wetlands were filled and used for farming or building. Since Colonial times, the nation has lost over 50% of its wetlands.
• Salt marshes are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. A healthy marsh produces 4 times more biomass per acre than the best corn field.
• 730 tides per year flush these nutrients from a salt marsh out into the coastal waters
• 98% of coastal fishes and shellfish use salt marshes as nursery habitats. In Northern New England only two of these fish species regularly use high marsh portions of a salt marsh, all of the rest hide and feed in the vast channel and rill systems
• 59% of the total soluble and particulate nutrients (detritus) in the coastal waters come from salt marshes
• 90% of the total salt marsh productivity is exported in the form of fish biomass.
Take a minute to think about these last two statements. 59% of the nutrients in the near shore waters come out of only 10% of a salt marshes total productivity. Not only that, but we have lost over 50% of our salt marshes, what was the productivity like 400 years ago?
The figures were taken from 3 different sources and when cross referenced they do not match perfectly, but they are close enough for the chicks we date. :lol: By fish they are refering to all nekton sources including clams worms etc. Salt marshes are by far our nations most precious resource.