Saltwater Marsh
Salt marshes occur on level, tidal-influenced areas. Usually there is a matrix of interconnected shallow natural channels that aid tidal influx.
Soil
Soils commonly associated with this community are level, very poorly drained, muck or sandy clay loams underlain by loamy sand or organic soils underlain by clay or sand or are clayey throughout. Many of the soils have a high sulfur content. Some of the soils are soft and will not support the weight of a man or large animal. Tidal action causes saturation of the soil with salt water and inundation to a depth of a few inches. Representative soil series are Bohicket, Homosassa, Lacoochee, Tisonia, Turnbull, and Weekiwachee.
Vegetation
Vegetation often occurs in distinct zones within the salt marsh complex as a result of water levels from tidal action and salinity concentrations in water and soils In excellent condition, a salt marsh site will be dominated with desirable grasses such as smooth cordgrass, big cordgrass, marshhay cordgrass, seashore saltgrass, seashore paspalum, and seashore dropseed. The relative percentages of annual plant production by weight for this range site in excellent condition are: grasses and grasslikes, 90%; woody plants and trees, 5%; and forbs, 5%. Plants which characterize this community are:
- GRASSES AND GRASS LIKES - smooth cordgrass, big cordgrass, marshhay cordgrass, switchgraass, seashore saltgrass, seashore paspalum, and seashore dropseed, shore grass, whorled dropseed, sedges, and rushes.
- FORBS - sea lavender, sea purslane, annual forbs, glassworts, and sea blite.
- TREES AND SHRUBS - bushy seaoxeye, mangroves, cabbage palm, matrimony vine, bigleaf sumweed, and lyonia species.
Grazing Value
Salt Marsh Range Sites have a potential for producing significant amounts of cordgrass, saltgrass, and other grasses and forbs. Annual plant production (air dry) from all plant groups for a site in excellent condition ranges from 4,000 to 8,000 lb/A depending on growing conditions. The suggested stocking rates are as follows:
Annual plant production (air dry) averages 5000 lb/A from sites in excellent range condition. Suggested stocking rates are as follows:
Range Condition Classes (acres/animal unit)
| Excellent |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
| 3-7 |
6-12 |
11-16 |
15+ |
On low energy coastlines and estuaries, the Salt Marsh Site functions as a transition zone from terrestrial to oceanic life. Salt marshes also perform an important function in the stabilization and protection of shorelines, especially during storm tides.
Nutrients, sediments and detritus from upland systems are redistributed by tidal action, making the marsh one of the most productive natural ecological systems. The area serves as a habitat for the early life stages of numerous ocean species as they feed on countless invertebrate organisms. Many wildlife forms overlap normal ranges at least seasonally to become harvesters and, in many cases, part of the natural food chain.
Wildlife
Salt Marsh Range Sites are good habitat for a variety of wildlife. The habitat type is usually maintained by natural forces and influences such as tidal action and periodic hurricanes.
Endangered and threatened plants, animals, and species of special concern.
- MAMMALS - West Indian manatee.
- BIRDS - brown pelican, Cape Sable seaside sparrow, least tern, arctic peregrine falcon, roseate tern, bald eagle, wood stork.
- REPTILES - American alligator, Atlantic green turtle, Atlantic hawksbill turtle, Florida ribbon snake, Atlantic saltmarsh water snake
- PLANTS - yellow squirrel-banana, Florida bear grass, wiregrass genetian, mock pennyroyal, Edison's ascyrum, fall flowering ixia, Bartram's ixia.
Adapted from "Range Sites of Florida" by
J. Jeffrey Mullahey, George W. Tanner,
and Stephen Coates
IFAS Extension Circular 951
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