Photo: Ralph Tiner
Photo: Ralph Tiner
Salt marshes, found along the coast, are directly affected by the rise and fall of the tides from the ocean. Every day the there are two periods of high tide and two periods of low tide. Therefore salt marshes are continually in a state of change. All species of wildlife are adapted to resting and feeding with the rhythm of the tide and to living in the salty environment. The tide brings in lots of sediment from the ocean and deposits it in the salt marshes. These bays and lagoons fill at a rate of 1 inch per year. All the sediment and plant material that is brought in contains high nutrients and many insects for wildlife. Common plants found in tidal areas are cordgrass, spike grass and black grass. Look for fiddler crabs, diamondback terrapins, mink, and shorebirds along these coastal marshes.