Transcript Marsh Cord Grass, Spartina alterniflora Marsh cord grass has

Marsh Cord Grass, Spartina alterniflora
Marsh cord grass has adapted to life in a salty environment. As a result it
dominates the landscape of the salt marsh ecosystem. While the plant has
evolved the ability to transport oxygen to it’s roots, the burrows of fiddler
crabs also provide oxygen deep beneath the surface of the mud.
Marsh Periwinkle, Littorina irrorata
The marsh periwinkle can be found on marsh cord
grass S. alterniflora, usually above the water so that
they can avoid predation by blue crabs, Callinectes
sapidus and fish. They eat detritus, microalgae, and
fungus, the latter they can actually farm!
American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
The American Oystercatcher is one of the most striking shorebirds in the estuarine
environment. They nest on beaches in the spring and can be found in large flocks in the
winter. As their name suggests, they feed on oysters by quickly snipping the abductor
muscle of those whose shells are open.
Fiddler Crab, Uca spp.
Fiddler crabs are small scavenging crustaceans that create burrows in the mud
of salt marshes. They use these burrows to evade predators. The males can be
identified by their one large claw which they use to attract mates.
Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris
Also called “marsh hens”, they get their name from the “clapping” sound of their call.
They nest in marsh cord grass above the high tide, and eat a variety of organisms
including: Fish, insects, seeds, crustaceans and mollusks.
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
The largest of North America’s heron
species, the Great Blue Heron is a longlegged wader commonly found in the salt
marsh. It’s diet includes: crustaceans,
fish, frogs, mice and even snakes.
Bottlenose dolphin, Turisops truncatus
The most common marine mammal that inhabits our estuaries, bottlenose
dolphins can be seen breaching in search of food. South Carolina’s
lowcountry is the only documented area where strand fishing occurs. This
strategy is thought to be a learned behavior where groups, or pods, of
dolphins work in teams and push their prey, usually mullet, onto sand bars,
thus stranding them and making it easier to feed.
Brown Pelican, Pelicanus occidentalis
Brown pelicans can be seen either gliding just above the surface of the water
or plunging head first in search of fish. They are a large bird whose
wingspan can exceed 6 feet. Brown pelicans stand on their eggs, using the
webbing of their feet to keep them warm during incubation.
Striped Mullet, Mugil cephalus
Commonly found in large schools in the estuaries, the striped mullet makes up
the forage base for a variety of birds, mammals, and other fish. They are filter
feeders, and can eat invertebrates too. They can be seen jumping completely
out of the water multiple times in succession.
Snowy Egret, Leucophoyx thula
The snowy egret is a stunning wading bird that stalks the shallows of the flooded marsh
grass and shorelines of the estuaries. Its diet consists mainly of small fish, but also eats
crustaceans, mollusks, frogs, lizards, and insects. It is smaller than the Great egret, has
a black beak and yellow feet. The Great egret has a yellow beak and black feet.
Great Egret, Leucophoyx thula
The great egret is a stunning wading bird that stalks the shallows of the flooded marsh
grass and shorelines of the estuaries. Its diet consists mainly of small fish, but also eats
crustaceans, mollusks, frogs, lizards, insects and even small mammals. It is larger than
the snowy egret, has a yellow beak and black feet. The snowy egret has a black beak
and yellow feet.
Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus
Blue crabs are scavengers, and will consume both live and dead organisms. Adult blue
crabs shed their shells, “molt” every few weeks, resulting in a soft shell crab or “peeler”
as they are locally known. Females can be distinguished by their orange claws and (if
ripe) by the presence of an orange egg sac on their abdomens. The blue crab constitutes
an important commercial fishery in South Carolina.
American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis
The American alligator is one of conservations biology’s greatest success
stories. Once it was classified as an endangered species it has since been
delisted. In fact, in 2008 the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
opened a limited-take hunting season in South Carolina
Wood stork, Mycteria americana
The wood stork is found throughout the southeast United States. It is a large
wading bird whose diet consists mostly of fish. It can be found nesting in
trees, usually near shallow ponds. The wood stork is the only stork that
breeds in the United States where it has endangered status. It can
Red fox, Vulpes vulpes
The red fox is omnivorous, eating everything from rodents, rabbits, fruits,
vegetables, and in densely populated areas, even garbage. Red foxes
mate in the winter and can have as many as 12 pups in the spring. Pups
usually get their red coat when they are one month old.
Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus
Also called a water moccasin, the cottonmouth is one of several species
of venomous snakes that can be found in the area. Their diet can include
fish, frogs, lizards and even baby alligators! This species can be found
basking in the sun near aquatic habitats.
Eelgrass
Fact: Eelgrass can only tolerate short periods of exposure to air. It is an
important food source for ducks and geese
Importance: Eelgrass grows in large beds. As a result it serves as vital nursery
grounds for juvenile fish and crustaceans providing habitat and refuge from
predators and current. Grass beds also trap sediments that may be infused with
pollutants or food. The complex root systems will also stabilize sediments and
help prevent erosion.
Graceful Red Weed
FACT: Lives in association with Eelgrass. Can be found in placid
bays and high energy estuaries.
Importance: Opportunistic species that is often found in bays where
eutrophication occurs.
Other Seaweeds of Eastern
Canada
Ditch Weed
Tube weed
Sea lettuce
Bladder wrack
Hollow Green Weed
Molluscs:
Mussels and Clams
Ribbed Mussel
MMMMMMMM!
False Angelwing (Clam)
Clams generally live in the sediment
whereas mussels usually attach to
substrate (grass roots). Both are filter
feeders, can bioaccumulate toxins and
both are sensitive to sedimentation.
Oysters
Diet: Filter feeders. Diatoms, algae,
plankton
Habitat: hard bottoms/structure
Importance: Filter water, Create ideal
habitat, protect habitat by reducing erosion
and impact of wave action (even
anthropogenic). Commercial/recreational
fishery.
Molluscs:
Mussels and Clams
Bay Quahaug. A.K.A
Hardshell clam
Soft shell clam
Quahaug, Rhode Island
Both species (Except Stewie) are harvested commercially and recreationally.
Ever heard of chowder?
Marsh Periwinkle, Littorina irrorata
The marsh periwinkle can be found on marsh cord
grass S. alterniflora, usually above the water so that
they can avoid predation by blue crabs, Callinectes
sapidus and fish. They eat detritus, microalgae, and
fungus, the latter they can actually farm!
Crustaceans:
Lobsters
American Lobster (Homarus americanus)
Diet: Scavenger, and living fish, crabs,
mollusks and other lobsters
Habitat: Cold, shallow water. Grass and
rocks (refuge from predators)
Importance: $1 Billion industry in Canada
exports to over 50 countries
Crustaceans:
Crabs/Shrimp
Snow Crab
Diet: Carnivorous/Scavengers (detritivores)
Habitat: Cold/Muddy bottoms. Very small
temperature range (3-4 °C) may make them
succeptible to G.W.
Importance: Male only fishery with size
limits, limited season, and fishing quotas.
Northern Shrimp
Diet: Carnivorous/Scavengers
(detritivores)
Habitat: cold water; soft, muddy
bottoms. Will go deep if water warms
above 6 °C
Importance: $250 Million shrimping
industry. The first in Canada to receive
the Marine Stewardship Council award
for being a sustainable fishery.
Worms
Diets: Worms can be carnivores,
detritivores, filter feeders, herbivores, and
omnivores. Some can even farm their own
food!
Habitat: Worms may either move freely in
the mud, swim through the water column,
build concrete tubes, or build tubes (burrows)
in the soft sediment of the sea floor. Some
can be found in the intertidal zone.
Importance: Make up the beginning stages
of decomposition. Constitute large portion of
the food base for many species (incl. birds,
mammals, fish, and crustaceans). Some can
aerate substrates.
Fish
Diet: Carnivorous (fish, molluscs,
crustaceans)
American Eel, Anguilla rostrata
Habitat: Easter Canada is Northern
extent. Catadromous. Nocturnal,
and when in estuaries they burrow
in muddy areas away from sunlight
and can be deterred by moonlight in
full moon situations
Importance: Fishery is over $5
million annually. Mostly driven by
Asian demand for elvers. Currently
eel populations are declining and
more information is needed to
succesfully manage stocks.
Fish
Shad, Alewifes, and Herrings
American shad, Alosa sapidissima
Alewife, Alosa pseudolarengus
Blueback Herring, Alosa aestivalis
Diet: filter feeders (plankton algae)
Habitat: Anadromous. “Local” maturing grounds
Importance: Recreational and Commercial Fisheries. May become
landlocked and use freshwater estuaries as migration routes.
Fish
Flatfish: Flounders and soles
Winter Flounder
Witch Flounder
Yellowtail flounder
Windowpane
Diet: Carnivorous
Habitat: Where do you think? (Estuarine and Offshore,
even fresh water)
Importance: Recreational/Commercial Fisheries
Fish
Salmonids
Atlantic Salmon
Brook Trout
Diet: Carnivorous
Habitat: Freshwater/saltwater or both? (anadromous)
Importance: Recreational and Commercial Fishery
Fish
Groundfish
Atlantic Cod
Atlantic Tomcod
Atlantic halibut
Diet: Carnivorous
Habitat: Benthic, mostly offshore
Importance: Traditionally important commercial fisheries. Atlantic cod
will never be the same!
Birds
Double-Crested Cormorant
•Fish eater, that can dive deep in
search of prey.
•No oil glands for waterproofing
•Snakelike neck makes it an efficient
predator on fish and other aquatic
organisms.
Greater Scaup
•Dives to feed on a variety of aquatic
organisms including plants, seeds and
animals.
•Almost solely found in
marine/estuarine environments
Birds
Red Breasted Merganser
•Fish eating diving bird
•Prefers salty water but is also
found in fresh water
•Bill has toothlike projections for
holding captured fish; AKA, Sawbill.
Brant
•Herbivorous small goose that
feeds on eelgrass.
•Feeds by “dabbling”
•Breeds in the high arctic tundra
winters along N. America’s coast
Birds
Canada Goose
•Another “Dabbling” herbivorous goose.
•Feeds on grasses, including terrestrial grasses and aquatic
grasses and sedges (eelgrass and skunk cabbage)
•Often seen flying in “V” formations
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
This raptor is commonly found throughout the estuarine environment. They
are often seen above our waterways searching for fish. When diving for their
meal they can reach speeds of 80mph. Its nests are among the largest built
by any birds measuring at least 5 feet diameter and 3 feet deep
Birds
Bald Eagle
•Large raptor often seen soaring in
search of food.
•Prefers fish but often eats large
ducks, mammals and carrion.
•Once threatened with extinction,
has since made an extraordinary
comeback
Birds
Herring Gull
Great Black Backed Gull
Ring-Billed Gull
•Gulls are shoreline inhabitants that feed on a variety of items
(omnivorous) including refuse
•Many are distinguishable by their calls
•The GBBG is the largest gull species in the world