wetlands march 3
Introduction to Estuarine Ecosystems
- Definitions and ecosystem diversity
- Estuaries: Areas where freshwater from rivers meets saltwater from the ocean, creating unique ecosystems.
- Communities within estuaries vary significantly based on salinity and hydrology.
Examination of Specific Marsh Examples
- Purple Flower: Pickerel Weed
- Abundant in low saline conditions along stream banks and in lakes.
- Historically consumed by Native Americans and used to produce tea.
- Examples from Virginia and North Carolina
- Floating marsh presentations of species distribution and ecological dynamics.
- Transition zones from marshes to woody vegetation, with species such as sycamores, willows, and cypress trees.
- Influence of hydrologic conditions on plant composition and community structure.