Wetlands: Tidal

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Abstract

Tidal wetlands are some of the most dynamic areas of the Earth and are found at the interface between the land and sea. Salinity, regular tidal flooding, and infrequent catastrophic flooding due to storm events result in complex interactions among biotic and abiotic factors. The complexity of these interactions, along with the uncertainty of where one draws the line between tidal and nontidal, makes characterizing tidal wetlands a difficult task. The three primary types of tidal wetlands are tidal marshes, mangroves, and freshwater forested wetlands. Tidal marshes are dominated by herbaceous plants and are generally found at middle to high latitudes of both hemispheres. Mangrove forests dominate tropical coastlines around the world while tidal freshwater forests are global in distribution. All three wetland types are highly productive ecosystems, supporting abundant and diverse faunal communities. Unfortunately, these wetlands are subject to alteration and loss from both natural and anthropogenic causes.
Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Wetlands: Tidal
DOI 10.1081/E-ENRL-120047505
Year Published 2014
Language English
Publisher CRC Press
Publisher location New York
Contributing office(s) National Wetlands Research Center
Description 19 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title Encyclopedia of natural resources: Land
First page 575
Last page 588
Other Geospatial Earth
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