Salt marshes form on muddy shores, especially in estuaries or sea loughs. The plants of a salt marsh are adapted to withstand regular tidal inundation and high salinity.
Characteristic species of this habitat are:
Farther back from the shore, a salt marsh frequently grades into freshwater marsh and species such as Phragmites australis, Eleocharis palustris, Carex disticha etc can become dominant.
| © National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland and Environment and Heritage Service, 2000-2004 |