TypesTypes ofof WetlandsWetlands TidalTidal SystemsSystems COASTALCOASTAL WETLANDWETLAND ECOSYSTEMSECOSYSTEMS u Tidal Salt Marshes u Tidal Freshwater Marshes u Mangrove Wetlands TidalTidal EstuarineEstuarine WetlandWetland TidalTidal WetlandWetland atat LowLow TideTide CrossCross SectionSection ofof TidalTidal WetlandWetland SubtidalSubtidal && IrregularlyIrregularly ExposedExposed TidalTidal WetlandWetland HydroperiodsHydroperiods Subtidal – permanently flooded with tidal water Irregularly exposed – surface exposed by tides less often than daily RegularlyRegularly && IrregularlyIrregularly FloodedFlooded TidalTidal WetlandWetland HydroperiodsHydroperiods Regularly Flooded – flooded and exposed daily Irregularly Flooded – flooded less often than daily TidalTidal CyclesCycles LateralLateral SalinitySalinity DiagramDiagram ofof TidalTidal CyclingCycling TidalTidal EnergyEnergy FlowFlow TidalTidal SaltSalt MarshMarsh FunctionsFunctions u Gross and net productivity are high u Marsh is a major producer of detritus for salt marsh and adjacent estuary u Detrital decomposition is the major pathway for energy utilization u Source and sink of nutrients u Marsh provides benthic, aquatic and avian habitat TidalTidal FreshwaterFreshwater SystemSystem HydrologyHydrology u Same of tidal salt marsh except salt concentration is lower u Generally smaller tidal range FreshwaterFreshwater TidalTidal WetlandWetland CrossCross-- sectionsection TidalTidal FreshwaterFreshwater EnergyEnergy Flow/Flow/ SourceSource // TransferTransfer TidalTidal FreshwaterFreshwater FunctionsFunctions u Gross and net productivity are high u Detrital decomposition is the major pathway for energy utilization – 60 to 90% u Direct consumption by grazers – 10 to 40 % u Source, sink and transfer of nutrients u Marsh provides benthic, aquatic, herptile and avian habitat MangrovesMangroves MajorMajor TypesTypes ofof MangroveMangrove WetlandsWetlands ZonesZones ofof MangroveMangrove VegetationVegetation MangroveMangrove EcosystemEcosystem FunctionFunction u Productivity dependent on tidal/runoff factors u System is producer of detritus for river and adjacent estuary u Detrital decomposition is the major pathway for energy utilization u Transformer of nutrients u Provides benthic, aquatic and avian habitat EnergyEnergy FlowFlow inin aa MangroveMangrove.