Knowra Marsh Marsh A wetland dominated by herbaceous plants, with saturated soil or shallow standing water. Marshes may occur in freshwater, brackish, or saltwater settings.
Wetland : An ecosystem where water saturates or covers the soil for at least part of the year. Marshes are one wetland type, distinguished by herbaceous vegetation.
Primary production : The rate at which organisms, mainly plants and algae, create organic matter from inorganic sources. Marsh plants produce the biomass that supports food webs and builds soil.
Coastal protection : Measures that reduce erosion, flooding, and storm damage along shorelines. Marsh vegetation and sediment can weaken waves and reduce shoreline erosion.
Swamp : A wetland dominated by woody plants such as trees or shrubs. Woody vegetation distinguishes swamps from herbaceous marshes.
Habitat fragmentation : The division of continuous habitat into smaller, separated patches. Dikes, roads, and development can isolate marsh habitat and disrupt species movement.
Hydroperiod : The seasonal pattern, duration, and frequency of flooding at a site. Flooding schedules shape which plants can dominate a marsh.
Sediment deposition : The settling and accumulation of particles carried by water, wind, or ice. Plant stems slow water and trap sediment, helping marsh surfaces gain elevation.
Water purification : The removal or transformation of contaminants and excess nutrients from water. Marsh soils and microbes can retain or transform pollutants carried by runoff.
Bog : A peat-accumulating wetland fed mainly by precipitation and typically low in nutrients. Bogs differ in water source, acidity, and characteristic plant communities.
Sea level rise : A long-term increase in the average level of the ocean relative to land. Rising seas can drown marshes when sediment or inland migration cannot keep pace.
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