Saltmarsh
Saltmarsh is a marine plant ecosystem that occupies the upper tidal zone above mean sea level, and receives regular but infrequent tidal flooding. The saltmarsh ecosystem consists of salt tolerant (halophyte) plant communities, algal mat and claypan / saltpan complexes devoid of shrubs and trees. These complex ecosystems occupy protected coastlines such as embayments, and occur along banks of tidal creeks and rivers. Saltmarsh plants are salt tolerant herbs, small shrubs and grasses (halophytes) that are usually reduced in stature (<0.5 m tall) and highly adapted to harsh growing conditions such as high salinity, full light exposure and moisture extremes. In Australia, saltmarsh vegetation dominates the upper tidal zone of temperate southern regions where the diversity of saltmarsh species is greatest, with up to 24 plant species commonly present. However species diversity and relative area of saltmarsh declines with decreasing latitude until the tropics, where 10 or less species are present. Although mangrove shrubs and trees might dominate the upper tidal zone of most tropical locations, in drier areas, saltmarsh vegetation dominates in the harsher growth conditions, demonstrating the remarkable resilience and salt tolerance of these hardy plants.
Moreton Bay Saltmarsh species Suaeda arbusculoides Jellybean Plant Suaeda australis Seablite Sarcocornia quinqueflora Beaded Samphire Sporobolus virginicus Marine Couch Halosarcia indica Brown Headed Samphire Halosarcia pergranulata Black Seeded Samphire Sesuvium portulacastrum Sea Purslane Fimbristylis polytrichoides Rusty Sedge More information Moreton Bay Saltmarsh 4p handout January 2006 pages 4-1 (pdf 1355KB) 2-3 (pdf 522KB)