Exploring Coastal Marsh Ecosystems

What type of landscape is described in the passage?

• Desert

• Salt marsh

• Mountain range

• Forest

Where are the major coastal marshes located in the United States according to the passage?

• California and Oregon

• South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana

• Texas and Florida

• New York and New Jersey

What is the primary characteristic of a salt marsh as described in the passage?

• It is a dry, arid landscape.

• It is part liquid, part solid, and ever-shifting.

• It is a dense forest.

• It is a rocky terrain.

What type of organisms use marshes as nursery grounds?

• Birds of prey

• Reptiles

• Commercially and recreationally important species like shrimp, crab, and fish

• Large mammals

What happens to fish during high tide in the marsh?

• They leave the marsh.

• They move onto the marsh to feed.

• They hide in the sediment.

• They stop feeding.

Which birds are mentioned as feeding in the marsh?

• Eagles and hawks

• Herons, egrets, ibis, and spoonbills

• Penguins and puffins

• Sparrows and robins

What is the main factor that allows coastal marshes to form?

• High wave action

• Soft sediment and not too much wave action

• Rocky cliffs

• Deep water

What is the constant element in the marsh environment according to the passage?

• The presence of trees

• The presence of sand dunes

• Change

• Stability

What type of grass is mentioned as part of the marsh landscape?

• Bamboo

• Mesmerizing green and golden grass

• Cactus

• Pine

What is the relationship between the tides and the marsh environment?

• The tides have no effect on the marsh.

• The tides cause the marsh to dry out completely.

• The ebb and flow of the tides cause constant change in the marsh.

• The tides only affect the ocean, not the marsh.