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Galilee Salt Marsh

Physical Characteristics

What are the different sections of a salt marsh? How are they different?

There are three main zones of the salt marsh; the low marsh, the high marsh, and the marsh border. The low marsh is the wettest of the three zones. It is flooded by the tides at least once a day and is dominated by salt water cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). It is one of the most important marsh grasses because its root system helps to hold the banks in place. The fiddler crab is found in the Spartina alterniflora along with ribbed mussels, marsh periwinkles, and amphipods. All of these creatures have adapted to the salinity of the water and the changing tides, for example, Spartinas have salt glands in their leaves and stems that help rid them of excess salt.

The high marsh is dryer and is flooded with tidal water only at high spring tides. The high marsh is dominated by salt hay, also known as salt meadow cordgrass (Spartina patens), glasswort, and juncus. Under the mat of the dead marsh grasses on the high parts of the salt marsh live crustaceans (crabs), snails, rough periwinkles and crickets.

The marsh border is the transitional zone between the marsh and the uplands, the regular terrestrial plant zone (trees and shrubs). The dominant plants here include phragmites, marsh elder, spike grass, and rosa rugosa. Some of the animals that live in or visit these bushes include the red wing blackbird, deer, and raccoons.

Here are the most common plants and animals found in the marsh. When you join us on our virtual field trip, be sure to look at pictures of the following starred creatures:

Birds
*Red Winged Black Bird
   (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Great Blue Heron
   (Ardea herodias)
Canada Goose (Branta)
   (seen during winter season)
*Great egret
*Snowy egret
   (Egretta thula)
Common Tern
   (Sterna hirundo)
*Laughing Gull
   (Larus atricilla)
*Herring Gull
   (Larus argentatus)
Mallard Duck
Black Duck
   (Nyroca)		 Invertebrates
*Amphipod
Dragonfly
Fiddler Crab
   (Uca pugnax)
Ribbed Mussel
   (Modiolus demissus)
*Marsh Periwinkle
   (Lisaxatilis)
*Hermit Crab
   (Pagurus policaris)
*Green Crab
Blue Crab
Lady Crab
*Horseshoe Crab
Comb Jellyfish
   (Bolinopsis nmeopsis)
*Quahog
   (Mercenaria mercenaria)
Soft-Shelled Clam
   (Mya arenaria)
* Razor Clam
   (Solen viridis)
*Common Oyster
   (Crassostrea virginica)
*Clam Worm
   (Nereis)
*Spider Crab
   (Libinia emarginata)
Fishes
*Mummichog
   (Fundulus heteroclitus)
*Silversides
Mammals
*Raccoon
   (Procyon) (raccoon tracks)
Red Fox
*Deer (deer tracks)
Skunk
Muskrat
Oppossum
Chipmunk
Squirrel
Field Mouse		 Plants
*Cordgrass
   (Spartina alternaflora)
*Salt Meadow Grass
   (Spartina patens)
*Glasswort
   (Salicornia)
*Sea Lettuce
   (Ulva)
*Black Grass or Rush
   (Juncus)
*Common Reed or Phragmites
   (Phargmites australis)

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