Saltmarsh Plants, Newport Helps You Preserve Local Ecosystems
This is a topic becoming increasingly popular as humans – along with the animal kingdom – are facing the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, and urbanization. It is affecting biodiversity and needs our immediate attention.
For those who don’t know yet, saltmarshes are coastal wetlands—or, better said, wetlands in coastal watersheds.
Sounds Hebrew? All right, here we go!
Watersheds are natural drainage basins or catchment areas, ridges of land that separate two adjacent water systems. They collect water from rain, snowmelt, and other nearby water bodies.
As evident from their name, salt marshes are the entire area from which tidal streams drain to the ocean or inland seas. However, they are just one type of coastal wetlands. Others are freshwater marshes and seagrass beds.
The salt marshes are flooded and drained by salt water the tides bring in. It supports the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity along the coastal areas. Apart from protecting shorelines, they minimise flooding for which, promoting the growth of salt marsh plants is encouraged!
To discuss further, we need to know what makes the salt marshes.
The soil of a salt marsh is deep mud and mixed with decomposing plant matter or peat. It’s waterlogged, root-filled, very spongy with extremely low oxygen levels due to the presence of anaerobic bacteria. You’ll find more than half of the total number of salt marshes in U.S. You’ll find more than half of the total number of salt marshes in U.S. along Gulf Coast.
Newport Lakes Native Nursery Provides an Invaluable Resource for Local Conservation Efforts.
The salt marshes are the lifeblood of healthy fisheries, coastlines, and communities. They also play an integral part in the economy and culture, locally and nationwide. They provide food, refuge, and habitat for more than 75 percent of Piscean species, crustaceans, and molluscs.
Salt marshes buffer wave action, trap sediments and protect shorelines from erosion. They cut down the chances of flooding greatly by slowing the flow of rainwater and absorbing it. Additionally, they protect water quality by filtering runoff with the help of the anaerobic bacteria that metabolize excess nutrients.
Most salt marshes exhibit zonation, with different plants growing at different shore levels. Depending on their ability to tolerate saltwater immersion, they develop through a series of colony-forming stages. However, not all salt marshes develop through to a climax vegetation.
Upper Newport Bay has a wide variety of salt marsh plant species; which are essentially land plants that have adapted to grow and thrive in a semi-marine habitat.
Some of the Salt Marsh Plants You’ll Find At Newport Lakes Native Nursery
Upper Newport Bay has a wide variety of salt marsh plant species, essentially land plants that have adapted to grow and thrive in a semi-marine habitat. These are called halophytes (in Greek; salt is άλας – álas and φυτό – fytó is any plant with specified characteristics or habitat). There are more than 2,500 halophyte genus worldwide. Some halophytes can be used as cash crops for fodder, edible plants, medicine, chemicals, ornamentals, and guess what? Fuel!
1. Pickleweed/Samphire/Glasswort/ Sea Asparagus:
Succulent plants thriving in salty environments of coastal wetlands and saltmarshes. Highly tolerant of saltwater, it is an important food source for some bird species.
The plant stabilizes the soil, prevents erosion and helps restoring saltmarshes with excessive salinity.
2. Saltbush:
Saltbush is a robust and drought-resistant shrub that thrives in soils with high salt content. There are several species of it, including the widespread grey saltbush with silvery foliage. Ideal for coastal restoration through soil stabilization and habitat creation for small mammals and birds. It improves soil quality greatly; preventing soil erosion and enhancing nutrient cycling.
3. Spiny Rush:
The tall and slender Spiny Rush has dense clumps to bind the soil, reducing erosion along coastal margins. Houses a variety of birds, amphibians, and insects adding to biodiversity and maintaining these ecosystems.
4. Australian Mangrove:
Not a strictly saltmarsh plant. The Australian mangrove is a species that grows at the interface between saltmarshes and intertidal zones. It maintains a healthy coastal environment and rehabilitates mangrove forests.
5. Rushes:
Another important plant group for saltmarsh ecosystems, this perennial plant is excellent at preventing soil erosion. Credits go to their fine, fibrous roots while the dense foliage makes for habitats for a large variety of wildlife. This is important for maintaining the ecological health of local wetlands and salt marshes.
Newport Lakes Native Nursery encourages planting saltmarsh plants, Newport
Planting saltmarsh plants or Halophytes bring a wealth of benefits, including:
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Ecological stability:
Halophytes can help maintain ecological stability and protect coastal habitats. They can bind sand dunes to prevent erosion and seawater from entering freshwater habitats.
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Climate change:
Halophytes can help mitigate the climate crisis by sequestering carbon. For example, Salicornia in Mexico can be cultivated for consumption and carbon sequestration.
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Mangroves:
Halophytes help establish mangroves, which protect the interior from storms, cyclones, and tsunamis.
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Saline soils:
Halophytes can be cultivated on salt-contaminated soils to restore them and as an alternative to desalination.
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Industrial, ecological, and agricultural purposes:
Halophytes can be used as vegetable, forage, and oilseed crops.
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Animal feeding:
Some halophytes can be used as fodder for animals in saline-prone areas.
GET AT IT! PLANT SOME MORE.
YOU WANT EROSION TO STAY CLEAR OFF THE SHORE!