Marine Ecology: Salt Marshes

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to salt marsh ecology.

Salt Marsh

A transition zone from ocean to land, where salt water and freshwater mix.

Biogenic Communities

Ecological communities created or maintained by living organisms.

Foundation Species

Species that create habitats and modify the environment with positive effects on diversity.

Zonation

The spatial distribution of different plant species in a salt marsh along tidal gradients.

Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)

The dominant plant species found in salt marshes.

Mudflat

The area of salt marsh under water for longer periods, where only hardy pioneer plants grow.

Facilitation

Interactions where one species benefits another without negative effects on either.

Ecosystem Engineering

Organisms that modulate the availability of resources to other species by causing physical state changes.

Trophic Cascade

A scenario where changes in the population of one species can impact the entire ecosystem.

Phase Shift

A large, abrupt, and persistent change in ecosystem structure and function.

Blue Carbon

Carbon captured by coastal and marine ecosystems, particularly salt marshes and mangroves.

Abiotic Interactions

Interactions involving non-living chemical and physical components of the environment.

Biotic Interactions

Interactions among living organisms within an ecosystem.

Microplastics

Small plastic particles that have accumulated in various marine environments.

Vegetated vs. Unvegetated

Categories used to describe salt marsh areas based on the presence of plant life.

High Salt, Low O2

Conditions in which certain marsh zones experience waterlogging and salinity.

Niche

The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem.

Competitive Dominants

Species that outcompete others for resources within a community.

Eutrophication

The enrichment of water with nutrients, often leading to algal blooms.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that spread widely and can disrupt local ecosystems.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Reef-Building Corals

Corals that form the structure of the reef, providing habitat for marine biodiversity.

Salt Marsh

A transition zone from ocean to land, where salt water and freshwater mix.

Biogenic Communities

Ecological communities created or maintained by living organisms.

Foundation Species

Species that create habitats and modify the environment with positive effects on diversity.

Zonation

The spatial distribution of different plant species in a salt marsh along tidal gradients.

Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)

The dominant plant species found in salt marshes.

Mudflat

The area of salt marsh under water for longer periods, where only hardy pioneer plants grow.

Facilitation

Interactions where one species benefits another without negative effects on either.

Ecosystem Engineering

Organisms that modulate the availability of resources to other species by causing physical state changes.

Trophic Cascade

A scenario where changes in the population of one species can impact the entire ecosystem.

Phase Shift

A large, abrupt, and persistent change in ecosystem structure and function.

Blue Carbon

Carbon captured by coastal and marine ecosystems, particularly salt marshes and mangroves.

Abiotic Interactions

Interactions involving non-living chemical and physical components of the environment.

Biotic Interactions

Interactions among living organisms within an ecosystem.

Microplastics

Small plastic particles that have accumulated in various marine environments.

Vegetated vs. Unvegetated

Categories used to describe salt marsh areas based on the presence of plant life.

High Salt, Low O2

Conditions in which certain marsh zones experience waterlogging and salinity.

Niche

The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem.

Competitive Dominants

Species that outcompete others for resources within a community.

Eutrophication

The enrichment of water with nutrients, often leading to algal blooms.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that spread widely and can disrupt local ecosystems.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Reef-Building Corals

Corals that form the structure of the reef, providing habitat for marine biodiversity.

Ecological Gradients in Salt Marshes

Variations in elevation, salinity, and water availability that determine the distribution of plant species.

Role of Pioneer Plants in Mudflats

To colonize bare sediment, stabilize the substrate, and initiate further ecological succession.

Significance of Blue Carbon Ecosystems

Globally important for carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation, and providing critical habitats.

Ecological Impact of Invasive Species

Disruption of native food webs, competition with native species, and alteration of habitat structure.

Consequences of Eutrophication in Coastal Waters

Leads to excessive algal growth, oxygen depletion (hypoxia), and potential loss of marine life.

Example of an Ecosystem Engineer in Salt Marshes

Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), which modifies the physical environment by trapping sediment and creating habitat.