Tidal Wetlands Primer : An Introduction to Their Ecology, Natural History, Status, and Conservation

At A Time When More Than Half Of The U.s. Population Lives Within Fifty Miles Of The Coast, Tidal Wetlands Are A Critical And Threatened Natural Resource. The Purpose Of This Book Is To Introduce The World Of Tidal Wetlands To Students And Professionals In The Environmental Fields And Others With An Interest In The Subject. Illustrated With Maps, Photographs, And Diagrams, This Volume Provides A Clear Account Of The Factors That Make These Habitats Unique And Vulnerable. It Discusses Their Formation, The Conditions Affecting Their Plant And Animal Life, And The Diversity Of Types Across North America, As Well As Their History, Use By Wildlife And Humans, Current Status, Conservation, Restoration, And Likely Future. The Emphasis Is On Vegetated Wetlands Marshes And Swamps With Additional Discussion Of Eelgrass Meadows, Rocky Shores, Beaches, And Tidal Flats. Ralph Tiner S Previous Field Guides To Coastal Wetland Plants In The Northeast And Southeast Have Been Widely Praised. Tidal Wetlands Primer Joins Tiner S Earlier Publications As An Authoritative And User-friendly Guide That Should Appeal To Anyone With A Serious Interest In Coastal Habitats. Definitions And Classification Of Tidal Wetlands And Estuaries -- Origin And Formation Of Tidal Wetlands -- The Dynamic Intertidal Environment -- Plant Response To The Tidal Environment -- Tidal Wetland Types And Their Vegetation -- Tidal Wetlands As Wildlife Habitat -- Functions And Values Of Tidal Wetlands -- Extent, Threats, And Human Uses Of North American Tidal Wetlands -- Tidal Wetland Conservation And Management -- Wetland Identification, Mapping, Delineation, And Functional Assessment -- Tidal Wetland Restoration, Creation, And Monitoring -- The Future Of Tidal Wetlands. Ralph W. Tiner. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 427-502) And Index. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Page Table of Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Purpose and Organization of the Book 1. Definitions and Classification of Tidal Wetlands and Estuaries Types of Estuaries Tidal Wetland Classification Further Readings 2. Origin and Formation of Tidal Wetlands Glaciation Postglacial Conditions Tidal Wetland Formation Further Readings 3. The Dynamic Intertidal Environment Wetland Hydrology Salinity Hydrogen Sulfides Hydrogen Ion Concentration (pH) Substrates and Soils Coastal Processes Further Readings 4. Plant Response to the Tidal Environment Hydrology Salt Stress Nutrient Availability Substrate Type Climate Physical Disturbances Biological Factors Human Actions Further Readings 5. Tidal Wetland Types and their Vegetation Beaches Tidal Flats Rocky Shores Salt Marshes Estuarine Shrub Swamps Estuarine Forests Brackish Marshes Tidal Fresh Marshes Tidal Freshwater Swamps Coastal Aquatic Beds Further Readings 6. Tidal Wetlands as Wildlife Habitat Invertebrate Habitat Fish Habitat Bird Habitat Reptile and Amphibian Habitat Mammal Habitat Rare Species Habitat A Special Note on Common Reed as Wildlife Habitat Further Readings 7. Functions and Values of Tidal Wetlands Changing Attitudes about Tidal Wetlands Ecosystem Productivity Water Quality Renovation Coastal Flood and Storm Protection Shoreline Stabilization Provision of Natural Products Carbon Storage and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scientific and Archeological Research Aesthetics, the Arts, and Recreation Increased Real Estate Value Economic Value Further Readings 8. Extent, Threats, and Human Uses of North American Tidal Wetlands Distribution Threats to Tidal Wetlands Tidal Wetland Trends in the Conterminous United States Human Use of Tidal Wetlands Further Readings 9. Tidal Wetland Conservation and Management Public Trust Doctrine Conservation Management Further Readings 10. Wetland Identification, Mapping, Delineation, and Functional Assessment Identification and Delineation Assessment Further Readings 11. Tidal Wetland Restoration, Creation, and Monitoring Defining Restoration, Creation, and Enhancement Agency Collaborations Goals and Objectives Basic Considerations in Project Planning Wetland Restoration Wetland Creation Data Needs for Project Planning and Developing a Monitoring Plan Wetland Monitoring Agency Guidance Restoration Prioritization Further Readings 12. The Future of Tidal Wetlands Historic, Current, and Predicted Sea-Level Rise Rates The Probable Future of Tidal Wetlands on Submerging Coasts The Probable Future of Tidal Wetlands along Emerging Coasts Other Climate Change Effects on Tidal Wetlands Managing the Marsh Environment Further Readings Appendix A. List of North American Wetlands of International Importance: Tidal Wetlands Appendix B. Profiles of Some Tidal Wetland Restoration Projects on the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts of the United States References Index About the Author Back Cover « At a time when more than half of the U.S. population lives within fifty miles of the coast, tidal wetlands are a critical and threatened natural resource. The purpose of this book is to introduce the world of tidal wetlands to students and professionals in the environmental fields and others with an interest in the subject. Illustrated with maps, photographs, and diagrams, this volume provides a clear account of the factors that make these habitats unique and vulnerable. It discusses their formation, the conditions affecting their plant and animal life, and the diversity of types across North America, as well as their history, use by wildlife and humans, current status, conservation, restoration, and likely future. The emphasis is on vegetated wetlands marshes and swamps with additional discussion of eelgrass meadows, rocky shores, beaches, and tidal flats. Ralph Tiner's previous field guides to coastal wetland plants in the Northeast and Southeast have been widely praised. Tidal Wetlands Primer joins Tiner's earlier publications as an authoritative and user-friendly guide that should appeal to anyone with a serious interest in coastal habitats. »-- Quatrième de couverture