At the Water's Edge: The Salt Marsh

What is the dominant grass species found in tidal salt marshes along the Southeast coast and into the Gulf of Mexico?

• Smooth cord grass

• Pampas grass

• Sea oats

• Bermuda grass

Which invertebrate species filters the water and deposits sediment, and waste products onto the marsh surface, thereby building marsh elevation?

• Periwinkle snail

• Fiddler crab

• Blue crab

• Marsh mussel

What is the primary factor that drives the vigor of marsh plants in terms of growth?

• Atmospheric pressure

• Freshwater input

• Salinity

• Temperature

What is the primary concern regarding the loss of below ground biomass in salt marshes?

• Reduced habitat for invertebrates

• Decreased plant growth

• Increased erosion

• Diminished ability to hold sediment in place

What is the average rate of sea level rise over the last 80 years?

• 4 millimeters per year

• 3 millimeters per year

• 2 millimeters per year

• 1 millimeter per year

What is the primary method used to determine how much sediment is accumulating in the marsh behind the island?

• Drone footage

• Satellite imaging

• Underwater cameras

• Sediment cores

What is the primary habitat preference of the salt marsh topminnow?

• Deep open water

• High salinity levels

• Intertidal creeks

• Mangrove forests

Where do alligator gar primarily occur in Florida?

• East of the Apalachicola River

• South of the Everglades

• North of the Panhandle

• West of the Apalachicola River

In which year did the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission close the harvest of alligator gar in state waters?

• 2010

• 2006

• 2000

• 2014

What is the main focus of the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Longterm Ecological Research Project?

• Assessing storm damage

• Studying carbon exchange in the marsh

• Monitoring fish populations

• Analyzing sediment composition