Network Analysis of the North Inlet Salt Marsh Ecosystem

Abstract

Salt marshes occur along the east coast of North America from the arctic marshes of Canada, through New England to the semi-tropical marshes of Florida (Teal & Teal, 1969). These systems reach their most extensive development behind the barrier beaches of South Carolina and Georgia. Considerable interest in the functioning of salt marsh ecosystems derives from their role in maintaining high biological productivity and in providing nutrient-rich nursery areas for valuable aquatic and wetland biota. The importance of salt marshes as a source of dissolved and particulate organic matter to the estuarine area and surrounding ocean was pointed out by Odum & de la Cruz (1967). Teal (1962) quantified the potential for large exports of organic matter from salt marshes to adjacent estuarine waters despite the high respiration rate of the dominant producer (Spartina alterniflora). On the other hand, Nixon (1980) reviewed the functioning of salt marshes and concluded that while many marshes do export carbon, it is doubtful that they make a significant difference to the production of finfish and shellfish in the adjacent waters. Similar conclusions were reached by Mann (1986). However, recent data from the extensive salt marshes of the Southeast US continue to indicate the importance of marsh-estuary exchanges in terms of organic export and trophic relationships (Kjerfve & McKellar 1980; Pomeroy & Wiegert 1981; Chrzanowski et al. 1982, 1983; Mitsch & Gosselink 1986).