Emergent Marsh
General Description
A marsh community that occurs on mineral soils or fine-grained organic soils; the substrate is flooded by waters that are not subject to violent wave action. Water depths can range from 15 cm to 2 m (6 inches to 6.6 feet); water levels may fluctuate seasonally, but the substrate is rarely dry, and there is usually standing water in the fall. Deep emergent marshes are quite variable. They may be codominated by a mixture of species or have a single dominant species.
Characters Most Useful for Identification
A community of non-woody plants growing out of water, where the water remains year-round. Typical examples of deep emergent marshes are dominated by cattail (Typha spp.). They tend not to be very floristically diverse and are continuously flooded throughout the year.
A marsh community that occurs on mineral soils or fine-grained organic soils; the substrate is flooded by waters that are not subject to violent wave action. Water depths can range from 15 cm to 2 m (6 inches to 6.6 feet); water levels may fluctuate seasonally, but the substrate is rarely dry, and there is usually standing water in the fall. Deep emergent marshes are quite variable. They may be codominated by a mixture of species or have a single dominant species.
Characters Most Useful for Identification
A community of non-woody plants growing out of water, where the water remains year-round. Typical examples of deep emergent marshes are dominated by cattail (Typha spp.). They tend not to be very floristically diverse and are continuously flooded throughout the year.
Deep Emergent Marsh Wildlife
Characteristic birds with varying abundance include swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana), red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris), American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), Virginia rail (Rallus limicola), pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) (P. Novak pers. comm.).
Characteristic amphibians and reptiles include bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), and painted turtle (Chrysemys picta).
Characteristic amphibians and reptiles include bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), and painted turtle (Chrysemys picta).
Deep Emergent Marsh Plants
Brasenia schreberi (water-shield)
|
Nuphar variegata (spatter-dock)
|
Nymphaea odorata
(white waterlily) |
Pontederia cordata pickerelweed |
Schoenoplectus acutus
hardstemmed bulrush |
Peltandra virginica
green arrow-arum |
Sparganium eurycarpum
giant bur-reed |
Dulichium arundinaceum
three-way sedge |
Iris versicolor
blue flag |
Invasive Species of deep emergent marshes
|
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (European frog's-bit)
|
Potamogeton crispus
(curly pondweed) |
Myriophyllum spicatum
(Eurasian water milfoil) |
purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria),
European common reed (Phragmites australis),
water chestnut (Trapa natans)
flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus)
yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus)
European common reed (Phragmites australis),
water chestnut (Trapa natans)
flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus)
yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus)