BIOL1110L-Salt Marsh Review

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to salt marshes, their ecology, and their significance.

Salt Marsh

A coastal ecosystem characterized by saline waters and salt-tolerant vegetation, providing various ecological services.

Dyke

A barrier built to block salt water and enable farming in salt marsh areas, originally constructed by the Acadians.

Blue Carbon Ecosystem

An ecosystem, such as a salt marsh, that sequesters carbon in plant biomass and sediment, significantly helping to mitigate climate change.

Corophium

A genus of amphipod crustaceans living in mudflats, serving as a vital food source for shorebirds.

Mycorrhizae

Fungi associated with plant roots that enhance nutrient uptake and support plant growth in salt marsh ecosystems.

Seaside Plantain (Plantago maritima)

A salt marsh plant characterized by succulent leaves and found in high elevations, important for wave energy reduction.

Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)

A salt-tolerant fine grass species, typically found growing alongside saltmeadow cordgrass in mid-elevations of salt marshes.

Species Diversity

The variety of different species within a given ecosystem, influenced by environmental complexity and species specialization.

Glasswort (Salicornia maritima)

A fleshy, jointed plant of salt marshes, known for its ability to thrive in saline conditions and its use in glassmaking.

Smooth Cordgrass (Sporobolus alterniflorus)

A coarse grass that dominates lower elevations of salt marshes and can withstand regular flooding.