DOCSLIB.ORG

The Ecology of Tidal Marshes of the Pacific Northwest Coast: a Community Profile

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Ecology of Tidal Marshes of the Pacific Northwest Coast: a Community Profile FWS/OBS-82/32 October 1983 lOlC C:c·,;.s,~ :,~c«,;<fa•.rcwd Sfafo(i, Li\ 70458 THE ECOLOGY OF TIDAL MARSHES OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST: A COMMUNITY PROFILE by Denise M. Seliskar John L. Gallagher College of Marine Studies University of Delaware Lewes, DL 19958 Project Officers Wiley M. Kitchens, John Cooper, and Penny Herring National Coastal Ecosystems Team U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1010 Gause Boulevard Slidell, LA 70458 Perfonned for National Coastal Ecosystems Team Division of Biological Services Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, DC 20240 Library of Congress Number: LC 83-600580 This report should be cited as follows: Sel iskar, O. M., and J. L. Gallagher. 1983. The ecology of tidal marshes of the Pacific ft>rthwest coast: a community profile. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Biological Services, Washington, D.C. FWS/OBS-82/32. 65 pp. PREFACE This tidal marsh community profile is chemical environment in which the organ­ part of a series of publications concern­ isms live. The third chapter treats the ing coastal habitats. The purpose of this biotic communities of tidal marshes. In profile is to describe the structure and the Pacific l'brthwest, there has histori­ ecological functions of tidal marshes of cally been more emphasis placed on struc­ the Pacific l'brthwest coast. This habitat tural aspects of the pl ant community than is ciassified by Cowardin et al. (1979) as on the functional roles for two reasons. occurring in the estuarine system, inter­ First, the diversity and zonation in the tidal subsystem, emergent v1etland class, Oregon and Washington Marshes are so and persistent subclass with a regularly striking that even ecologists oriented to­ or irregularly flooded water regime. The ward mineral cycling and energy fl ow can­ water chemistry is mixohal ine and the not help but think of indices of similar­ soils are mineral or organic. ity, line-point transects, and cluster analyses. Second, and perhaps coincident­ This profile is a synthesis of scien­ ally, most of the botanists workin'g in the tific infonnation and 1 iterature available coastal zone happen to be interested in on various aspects of tidal marsh ecology. cominuni ty structure. There has been much research on some topics and in these areas we will discuss The fourth chapter of the profile representative data. Little infonnation focuses on ecological interactions within specifically collected in the geographic tidal marshes and between marshes and reg ion is available on other topics. In adjacent systems. There is a paucity of the latter cases we have 1 ooked to other this type of infonnation from the wetlands regions where conditions are similar and of Oregon and Washington. Most of the have suggested probable conclusions when research on these topics in the region is future research on that topic is conducted from Canada and describes work relating to in the Pacific l'brthwest. salmon in British Columbia. Much of the local infonnation for this section was The coastal marshes of the region dot drawn from our experiences in the marshes the rocky coast. As seen on the cover of of Oregon and our discussions with others this publication, narrow inlets from the working there. Many of the ideas are sea open to protected bays where ma rs hes speculative in nature, and we have care­ fonn the ecotone between upland and the fully tried to point out when the data are estuarine habitat. Marsh plants probe the inadequate to make definitive statements. emerging mudflats for a suitable physical and chemical envi ronr.ient. On the upland Chapter 5 is a discuss ion of 11anage­ fringe, where soil aeration increases and r:ient practices. It examines both the his­ salinity drops, these pl ants lose their torical approach and future management competitive advantage to the upland plants. efforts built on the current understanding This profile is focused on these estuarine of the role of these discontinuous wet­ ecotones. lands in the coastal zone of the Pacific l'brthwest. The final chapter sur.inari zes The first two chapters of the text the major points about the Pacific l'brth­ discuss the development of Pacific l'brth­ west tidal marshes and compares them to west coastal wetlands and the physical and those at other sites. i i i -- The authority used for plant names all other cases. in this profile is Hitchcock and Conquist ( 19 73}. The authority used for bi rd names Any questions, comments about, or is American OrAithologists 1 Union (AOU requests for this publication should be 1982). addressed to: The metric sys tern is used throughout this report except in those cases where Infonnation Transfer Specialist the convention of the field is to use Eng- National Coastal Ecosystems Team 1 ish units (i.e., soil horizons in inches, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fish weights in pounds). For ease in com­ W\SA-Sl idel l Computer Complex parison, English equivalents are given for 1010 Gause Boulevard tenperature, area, and tidal heights. A Slidell, Louisiana 70458 table of conversion values is provided for iv CONTENTS PREFACE • • • • iii FIGURES •••• vi TABLES • • • • vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS • • • • viii CONVERSION FACTOR TABLE ix CHAPTER 1 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ENVIRO!f.1ENT •••• 1 1.1 Regional Climate and Meteorology •• 1 1. 2 Tidal Regimes and Water Relations •••• 2 1. 2.1 The Estuaries ••••••••• 3 1. 2. 2 River Systems and Runoff ••• 4 1.2.3 Tidal Creeks ••••••••• 6 1. 3 Soils - Salinity and Fertility • • ••• 6 CHAPTER 2 MARSH DISTRIBUTION • • • • •• 10 2.1 Distribution of Tidal Marshes 10 2.2 Types of Ma rs hes • • • • • • • 11 CHAPTER 3 BIOTIC COMMUNITIES ••••••••••••••• 15 3.1 Vegetation - Zonation and Species Distribution • 15 3.2 Microbes • • • • • 22 3.3 Faunal Components 25 3.3.1 Invertebrates 25 3.3.2 Fi shes • 30 3.3.3 Birds 32 3.3.4 Mammals • 34 CHAPTER 4 ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS •••••• 37 4.1 Ecological Processes Within the Marsh 37 4.1.1 Primary Production • • • • • • • ••• 37 4.1.2 Decomposition • • • • • • • • • ••• 41 4.1. 3 Grazing • • ••• 42 4.1.4 Food Webs • • • • 42 4.1. 5 Uses of the Marsh • • • • • • 43 4.2 Mineral Cycling in the Marsh •••••.•••••.• 47 4.3 Interactions Between the Marsh and Adjacent Ecosystems • 48 CHAPTER 5 MANll.GEMENT • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • 50 5.1 Sensitivity to Natural and Cultural Perturbations 50 5.2 His tori ca 1 Management Approach • • • • • • . • • • 51 5.3 Upland Marsh Boundaries ••.•••••• 54 5.4 Current Management Practices and Future Prospects 56 CHAPTER 6 SUMMARY AND COMPARISONS 58 REFERENCES 60 v FIGURES Number 1 An annual precipitation pattern for coastal Oregon at Tillamook in 19 79 • . • • • . • . • . • . • • . • • . 2 2 Typical daily tidal curve for Astoria, Oregon ••••.•••• 3 3 High tides at Netarts Bay, Oregon •••.••.•.•••••••• 4 4 Stream patterns in the marsh at the head of Netarts Bay, Oregon 6 5 Marsh soil moisture tension during the growing season at Netarts Bay, Oregon, at a depth of 10 cm • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • 9 6 Location of estuaries in Oregon and Washington •••••••••••• 11 7 Zone of accretion at the marsh-mudflat interface •••••.• 12 8 Pickleweed as a pioneer on the tidal flat in a low sandy marsh 20 9 Seaside plantain growing in a low sandy marsh ••••••••• 20 10 Circular clumps of arrow-grass in a low silty marsh •••••• 21 11 Lyngbye' s sedge marsh in a brackish estuary •••••••••• 21 12 Pacific sil verweed fran a mature high marsh •••••••••• 22 13 Typical zonation of marsh plants in a saline Pacific Northwest ti da 1 rna rs h • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • 23 14 Possible zonation pattern in a brackish Pacific Northwest t1dal marsh .•.••.........•..•..•....• 23 15 Examples of the range of variations in vegetational zonation in Pacific tbrthwest tidal marshes •••••••••••••••••••• 24 16 Drift line in an Oregon low sandy marsh ••••••••••••• 26 17 Conceptual model of carbon flow between components ·of tidal marsh ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest •••••••••••••••• 38 18 Conceptual model of energy or material fl ow between tidal marshes and other coastal ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest •••••• 49 19 Lyngbye's sedge marsh invading a mudflat created by a log blocking a marsh creek • . • • . • • . • • . • . • . • . • . 51 20 Diked and undiked marshlands which are being used for pasture ••• 52 21 Transition from wetland to upland ••••••••••••••••• 55 vi TABLES Number 1 Classification of estuaries of the Pacific Northwest, drainage basin area, and mean annual discharge rates • • • • • • • • • • • . • • 5 2 Description of a typical Sulfihemist (Histosol) and a typical Sulfaquent ( Enti sol) from coastal marshes • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8 3 Areal extent of salt marshes associated with Oregon estuaries • . 11 4 Characteristics of the eight types of marshes described for Oregon by Akins and Jefferson (1973) . • • . • . • . • . • . • . • . 13 5 Eight Oregon marsh community types and their typical plant species composition . 16 6 Common plant species found in Pacific Northwest tidal marshes • • . 17 7 Invertebrates characteristic of five Oregon marsh habitats. • • . • 27 8 Approximate densities and percentages of invertebrate taxa from five habitats of an Oregon marsh . • • • • • • • • • • • • • 29 9 Common and scientific names, marsh habitat, and life stage of some fishes associated with marshes of the Pacific Northwest • • • 31 10 Bird observations in salt marshes at Coos Bay . • • • • • • • • • • • • 33 11 Common and scientific names and relative abundance of birds associated with marshes of Coos Bay • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 35 12 Common and scientific names of some mammal species associated with the marshes of the Pacific Northwest •.••.••.••••••• ~ • 36 13 Representative processes of carbon flow in salt marsh communities • • • 39 14 Primary production estimates of selected Oregon marsh pl ants 41 15 Relative importance of prey items of the dominant fishes of Woodward Island marsh channels • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • 45 16 Landfills on lands lying between the line of ordinary high water and the line of ordinary low water in selected Oregon estuaries • • 53 vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We are indebted to all those who have­ printed by Pam Palinski and Lewis Nelson.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Alternative Stable States of Tidal Marsh Vegetation Patterns and Channel Complexity
    ECOHYDROLOGY Ecohydrol. (2016) Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/eco.1755 Alternative stable states of tidal marsh vegetation patterns and channel complexity K. B. Moffett1* and S. M. Gorelick2 1 School of the Environment, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, USA 2 Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA ABSTRACT Intertidal marshes develop between uplands and mudflats, and develop vegetation zonation, via biogeomorphic feedbacks. Is the spatial configuration of vegetation and channels also biogeomorphically organized at the intermediate, marsh-scale? We used high-resolution aerial photographs and a decision-tree procedure to categorize marsh vegetation patterns and channel geometries for 113 tidal marshes in San Francisco Bay estuary and assessed these patterns’ relations to site characteristics. Interpretation was further informed by generalized linear mixed models using pattern-quantifying metrics from object-based image analysis to predict vegetation and channel pattern complexity. Vegetation pattern complexity was significantly related to marsh salinity but independent of marsh age and elevation. Channel complexity was significantly related to marsh age but independent of salinity and elevation. Vegetation pattern complexity and channel complexity were significantly related, forming two prevalent biogeomorphic states: complex versus simple vegetation-and-channel configurations. That this correspondence held across marsh ages (decades to millennia)
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of the Artificial Wildbird Tidal Mudflat in Fukuoka, Japan
    1 The Evolution of the MIA DOCTO + SCOTT WALLS Jacob Bintliff, Mariana Chavez, Daniela Peña Corvillon, Artificial Wildbird Tidal Johanna Hoffman, Katelyn Walker, UC Berkeley, LA 205 Studio Mudflat in Fukuoka, Japan Spring 2012 2 PRESENTATION CONTENT INTRODUCTION // SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS // WETLAND DESIGN // HUMAN INTERFACE // CONCLUSIONS 3 CONTEXT 4 5 6 CONTEXT BEFORE PRESENT 7 ISLAND CITY 8 9 ITERATIONS ORIGINAL WETLAND PLAN 10 ITERATIONS JAPAN STUDENT WORKSHOP 11 ITERATIONS 2008 Land Use Plan ~8.5 - 9 ha ~12 ha ~10 ha ~10 ~7 ha Setup of the central area ~8.75 ha ~38.25 ha We will establish a lively ~7 ha interactive space by inviting urban functions such as commercial and ~ 6.75 ha corporate functions, and dissemination of information on education, ~2.25 ha Wild Bird Park 3.9 ha 3.1 ha School and Amenities culture, and art. Further, public transportation Green Space facilities and facilities for 4.1 ha convenience are invited Assigned Facilities Teriha Town to improve the business Hospital ~18 ha environment in the area. Apartments 4.1+ ha Joint Independent Houses Spcialist Clinic 1.8 ha ~1.5 ha Commercial Elderly Elderly Center? Center Planned Subdivision 1.6 ha 1.2 ha Coporate (Sold) 0.9 ha Planned Use/Mixed Use Idustrial and hatches based on legend color code and denote use type Research & Development Currently Built Port Warf 1000 m UC BERKELEY LAND USE PLAN 12 ITERATIONS UC BERKELEY LAND USE PLAN 13 ITERATIONS 16 Hectare Wild Bird Park UC BERKELEY - JAPAN WETLAND DESIGN 14 DESIGN GOALS Provide natural habitat for migrating bird species
    [Show full text]
  • Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (2012)
    FGDC-STD-018-2012 Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard Marine and Coastal Spatial Data Subcommittee Federal Geographic Data Committee June, 2012 Federal Geographic Data Committee FGDC-STD-018-2012 Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, June 2012 ______________________________________________________________________________________ CONTENTS PAGE 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Objectives ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Need ......................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Scope ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Application ............................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Relationship to Previous FGDC Standards .............................................................. 4 1.6 Development Procedures ......................................................................................... 5 1.7 Guiding Principles ................................................................................................... 7 1.7.1 Build a Scientifically Sound Ecological Classification .................................... 7 1.7.2 Meet the Needs of a Wide Range of Users ......................................................
    [Show full text]
  • James T. Kirby, Jr
    James T. Kirby, Jr. Edward C. Davis Professor of Civil Engineering Center for Applied Coastal Research Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Delaware Newark, Delaware 19716 USA Phone: 1-(302) 831-2438 Fax: 1-(302) 831-1228 [email protected] http://www.udel.edu/kirby/ Updated September 12, 2020 Education • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware. Ph.D., Applied Sciences (Civil Engineering), 1983 • Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. Sc.B.(magna cum laude), Environmental Engineering, 1975. Sc.M., Engineering Mechanics, 1976. Professional Experience • Edward C. Davis Professor of Civil Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Delaware, 2003-present. • Visiting Professor, Grupo de Dinamica´ de Flujos Ambientales, CEAMA, Universidad de Granada, 2010, 2012. • Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Delaware, 1994-2002. Secondary appointment in College of Earth, Ocean and the Environ- ment, University of Delaware, 1994-present. • Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Delaware, 1989- 1994. Secondary appointment in College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, as Associate Professor, 1989-1994. • Associate Professor, Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering Department, University of Florida, 1988. • Assistant Professor, Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering Department, University of Florida, 1984- 1988. • Assistant Professor, Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1983- 1984. • Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Delaware, 1979-1983. • Principle Research Engineer, Alden Research Laboratory, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1979. • Research Engineer, Alden Research Laboratory, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1977-1979. 1 Technical Societies • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering Division.
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society, Volume 2, Number 1
    54 Oklahoma Native Plant Record Volume 2, Number 1, December 2002 Schoenoplectus hallii and S. saximontanus 2000 Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge Survey Dr. Lawrence K. Magrath Curator-USAO (OCLA) Herbarium Chickasha, OK 73018-5358 A survey to determine locations of populations of Schoenoplectus hallii and S. saximontanus was conducted at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in August and September 2000. One or both species were found at 20 of the 134 locations surveyed. A distinctive terminal achene character was found specifically that the transverse ridges of S. hallii appeared to be rounded and S. saximontanus appeared to be rounded with a projecting narrow wing. Basal macroachenes have not yet been properly described but are borne singly at the base of each culm and are about 3-4 times larger than the terminal achenes. It is speculated that amphicarpy may be related to grazing pressure, the basal macroachene being produced even if the upper portion is consumed, as a response to grazing. Both species are grazed/disturbed by bison, elk, and longhorns on the Refuge. Introduction the drawdown mud, sand, or gravel flats. A survey to determine locations of However in some places they occur in shallow populations of Schoenoplectus hallii (A. Gray) water up to a depth of about a foot [30.5cm]. S.G. Smith (Hall’s bulrush) and S. saximontanus They seem to compete with perennial emergent (Fernald) J. Raynal (Rocky Mountain bulrush) plants and with most emergent annuals. was conducted on the Wichita Mountains In addition to the 36 sites that I Wildlife Refuge during late August through personally examined, WMWR staff examined September 2000.
    [Show full text]
  • Wetlands, Biodiversity and the Ramsar Convention
    Wetlands, Biodiversity and the Ramsar Convention Wetlands, Biodiversity and the Ramsar Convention: the role of the Convention on Wetlands in the Conservation and Wise Use of Biodiversity edited by A. J. Hails Ramsar Convention Bureau Ministry of Environment and Forest, India 1996 [1997] Published by the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Gland, Switzerland, with the support of: • the General Directorate of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of the Walloon Region, Belgium • the Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark • the National Forest and Nature Agency, Ministry of the Environment and Energy, Denmark • the Ministry of Environment and Forests, India • the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Sweden Copyright © Ramsar Convention Bureau, 1997. Reproduction of this publication for educational and other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior perinission from the copyright holder, providing that full acknowledgement is given. Reproduction for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. The views of the authors expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect those of the Ramsar Convention Bureau or of the Ministry of the Environment of India. Note: the designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Ranasar Convention Bureau concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Citation: Halls, A.J. (ed.), 1997. Wetlands, Biodiversity and the Ramsar Convention: The Role of the Convention on Wetlands in the Conservation and Wise Use of Biodiversity.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Our Wonderful Wetlands Publication
    Exploring Our Wonderful Wetlands Student Publication Grades 4–7 Dear Wetland Students: Are you ready to explore our wonderful wetlands? We hope so! To help you learn about several types of wetlands in our area, we are taking you on a series of explorations. As you move through the publication, be sure to test your wetland wit and write about wetlands before moving on to the next exploration. By exploring our wonderful wetlands, we hope that you will appreciate where you live and encourage others to help protect our precious natural resources. Let’s begin our exploration now! Southwest Florida Water Management District Exploring Our Wonderful Wetlands Exploration 1 Wading Into Our Wetlands ................................................Page 3 Exploration 2 Searching Our Saltwater Wetlands .................................Page 5 Exploration 3 Finding Out About Our Freshwater Wetlands .............Page 7 Exploration 4 Discovering What Wetlands Do .................................... Page 10 Exploration 5 Becoming Protectors of Our Wetlands ........................Page 14 Wetlands Activities .............................................................Page 17 Websites ................................................................................Page 20 Visit the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s website at WaterMatters.org. Exploration 1 Wading Into Our Wetlands What exactly is a wetland? The scientific and legal definitions of wetlands differ. In 1984, when the Florida Legislature passed a Wetlands Protection Act, they decided to use a plant list containing plants usually found in wetlands. We are very fortunate to have a lot of wetlands in Florida. In fact, Florida has the third largest wetland acreage in the United States. The term wetlands includes a wide variety of aquatic habitats. Wetland ecosystems include swamps, marshes, wet meadows, bogs and fens. Essentially, wetlands are transitional areas between dry uplands and aquatic systems such as lakes, rivers or oceans.
    [Show full text]
  • Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Redwood National Park
    Humboldt State University Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University Botanical Studies Open Educational Resources and Data 9-17-2018 Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Redwood National Park James P. Smith Jr Humboldt State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps Part of the Botany Commons Recommended Citation Smith, James P. Jr, "Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Redwood National Park" (2018). Botanical Studies. 85. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps/85 This Flora of Northwest California-Checklists of Local Sites is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Educational Resources and Data at Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Botanical Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A CHECKLIST OF THE VASCULAR PLANTS OF THE REDWOOD NATIONAL & STATE PARKS James P. Smith, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Botany Department of Biological Sciences Humboldt State Univerity Arcata, California 14 September 2018 The Redwood National and State Parks are located in Del Norte and Humboldt counties in coastal northwestern California. The national park was F E R N S established in 1968. In 1994, a cooperative agreement with the California Department of Parks and Recreation added Del Norte Coast, Prairie Creek, Athyriaceae – Lady Fern Family and Jedediah Smith Redwoods state parks to form a single administrative Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosporum • northwestern lady fern unit. Together they comprise about 133,000 acres (540 km2), including 37 miles of coast line. Almost half of the remaining old growth redwood forests Blechnaceae – Deer Fern Family are protected in these four parks.
    [Show full text]
  • Tidal Marsh Recovery Plan Habitat Creation Or Enhancement Project Within 5 Miles of OAK
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Recovery Plan for Tidal Marsh Ecosystems of Northern and Central California California clapper rail Suaeda californica Cirsium hydrophilum Chloropyron molle Salt marsh harvest mouse (Rallus longirostris (California sea-blite) var. hydrophilum ssp. molle (Reithrodontomys obsoletus) (Suisun thistle) (soft bird’s-beak) raviventris) Volume II Appendices Tidal marsh at China Camp State Park. VII. APPENDICES Appendix A Species referred to in this recovery plan……………....…………………….3 Appendix B Recovery Priority Ranking System for Endangered and Threatened Species..........................................................................................................11 Appendix C Species of Concern or Regional Conservation Significance in Tidal Marsh Ecosystems of Northern and Central California….......................................13 Appendix D Agencies, organizations, and websites involved with tidal marsh Recovery.................................................................................................... 189 Appendix E Environmental contaminants in San Francisco Bay...................................193 Appendix F Population Persistence Modeling for Recovery Plan for Tidal Marsh Ecosystems of Northern and Central California with Intial Application to California clapper rail …............................................................................209 Appendix G Glossary……………......................................................................………229 Appendix H Summary of Major Public Comments and Service
    [Show full text]
  • Freshwater Marsh and Coastal Salt Marsh. Both
    MARSH VEGETATION COMMUNITY There are two types of Marsh lands in San Diego County; Freshwater Marsh and Coastal Salt Marsh. Both of these communities are very important for wildlife, and both have had extensive reductions due to channelization, dredging and vegetation removal. Both communities have been reduced in area by 85-90 percent of their original area to less than 1,000 acres total. Coastal Salt Marsh is found within the tidal zone on the edge of lagoons and bays. The major locations of this community are the Tijuana Estuary, Penasquitos Lagoon and the mouth of the Santa Margarita River. Dominant plants in Coastal Salt Marsh are Glasswort (Salicornia), Alkali heath (Frankenia), Salt grass and Cordgrass. Two notable endangered birds occur within this community, the Light footed clapper rail and the Belding’s savannah sparrow. However, the Marsh lands are also important for shorebirds and the naturally occurring flow channels within Coastal Salt Marsh are important spawning areas for a number of fish species. Freshwater Marsh land is found along stream courses and near Riparian wetland areas. It was originally found near natural springs and ponded areas within the major stream channels. It has been affected by channelization and clearing of vegetation within stream channels. Dominant plants within Freshwater Marsh include rushes, cattails, bulrushes (or tules) and several species of small willows. There is often open water in depressions or natural springs. Freshwater Marsh is home to a number of species of birds including the Yellowthroat, a species of Warbler, several species of small herons as well as rails. Freshwater Marsh in its natural state has also served as habitat for native frog species, several of which are now endangered.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecosystem Element Conceptual Model Tidal Marsh
    Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Regional Ecosystem Restoration Implementation Plan Ecosystem Element Conceptual Model Tidal Marsh Prepared by: Ronald T. Kneib, University of Georgia Marine Institute [email protected] and • Charles A. Simenstad, School of Aquatic & Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington • Matt L. Nobriga, CALFED Science Program • Drew M. Talley, San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, San Francisco State University, Romberg Tiburon Center Date of Model: October 2008 Status of Peer Review: Completed peer review on October 2008. Model content and format are suitable and model is ready for use in identifying and evaluating restoration actions. Suggested Citation: Kneib R, Simenstad C, Nobriga M, Talley D. 2008. Tidal marsh conceptual model. Sacramento (CA): Delta Regional Ecosystem Restoration Implementation Plan. For further inquiries on the DRERIP conceptual models, please contact Brad Burkholder at [email protected] or Steve Detwiler at [email protected]. PREFACE This Conceptual Model is part of a suite of conceptual models which collectively articulate the current scientific understanding of important aspects of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta ecosystem. The conceptual models are designed to aid in the identification and evaluation of ecosystem restoration actions in the Delta. These models are designed to structure scientific information such that it can be used to inform sound public policy. The Delta Conceptual Models include both ecosystem element models (including process, habitat, and stressor models) and species life history models. The models were prepared by teams of experts using common guidance documents developed to promote consistency in the format and terminology of the models http://www.delta.dfg.ca.gov/erpdeltaplan/science_process.asp .
    [Show full text]
  • Responses of Tidal Freshwater and Brackish Marsh Macrophytes to Pulses of Saline Water Simulating Sea Level Rise and Reduced Discharge
    Wetlands (2018) 38:885–891 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-018-1037-2 ORIGINAL RESEARCH Responses of Tidal Freshwater and Brackish Marsh Macrophytes to Pulses of Saline Water Simulating Sea Level Rise and Reduced Discharge Fan Li1 & Steven C. Pennings1 Received: 7 June 2017 /Accepted: 16 April 2018 /Published online: 25 April 2018 # Society of Wetland Scientists 2018 Abstract Coastal low-salinity marshes are increasingly experiencing periodic to extended periods of elevated salinities due to the com- bined effects of sea level rise and altered hydrological and climatic conditions. However, we lack the ability to predict detailed vegetation responses, especially for saline pulses that are more realistic in nature than permanent saline presses. In this study, we exposed common freshwater and brackish plants to different durations (1–31 days per month for 3 months) of saline water (salinity of 5). We found that Zizaniopsis miliacea was more tolerant to salinity than the other two freshwater species, Polygonum hydropiperoides and Pontederia cordata. We also found that Zizaniopsis miliacea belowground and total biomass appeared to increase with salinity pulses up to 16 days in length, although this relationship was quite variable. Brackish plants, Spartina cynosuroides, Schoenoplectus americanus and Juncus roemerianus, were unaffected by the experimental treatments. Our ex- periment did not evaluate how competitive interactions would further affect responses to salinity but our results suggest the hypothesis that short pulses of saline water will increase the cover of Zizaniopsis miliacea and decrease the cover of Polygonum hydropiperoides and Pontederia cordata in tidal freshwater marshes, thereby reducing diversity without necessarily affecting total plant biomass.
    [Show full text]