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Question 1

What are Saltmarshes?

Answer 1

Saltmarshes are areas of flat, silty sediments that accumulate around estuaries or lagoons? They develop around estuaries or lagoons

Question 2

What 3 types of environments do they form in?

Answer 2

• a sheltered area where deposition occurs (e.g. behind a spit)
• where salt and freshwater meet (e.g. estuaries)
• where there are no strong tides or currents to prevent sediment deposition and accumulation.

Question 3

Formation of saltmarshes

Answer 3

Mud is deposited close to the high tide line, dropping our of the water by a process known as flocculation. This involves ting particles of clay (mud) sticking together such that their combined mass enables enables them to sink to the seabed

As with sand dunes, pioneer plants such as eelgrass and cordless start to colonise ge transition zone between high and low tide. These plants can tolerate inundation by salty water and they also help to trap further deposits of mud.

Gradually, the mud level rises above high tide and a lower Saltmarsh develops with a wider range of plants that no longer need to be so well adapted to salty conditions

Soil conditions improve and the vegetation succession continues to form a meadow.

Eventually, shrubs and trees will colonise the area as the succession reaches its climatic climax