Salt Marsh

Children's Literature - Carolyn Mott Ford

When the tide washes in along the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, the grasslands are flooded with saltwater. Only a few plants, such as the salt marsh cordgrass, can survive in the salty environment, and most plants can't grow with their roots underwater. The cordgrass eliminates salt through its leaves and the stems are equipped with hollow tubes that carry air down to the roots. Bacteria feed on the decaying leaves of the cordgrass and shrimp, worms, mussels and small fish feed on the detritus. Larger creatures then feed upon the smaller animals. This book is part of the "Webs of Life" series documenting the complexity and interdependency of various forms of life in natural environments. Salt marshes have often been used as dumps or thoughtlessly filled in for building sites, but they are now recognized as important habitats for many plants and creatures. The excellent photographs are from various sources and a back-of-the-book illustration provides a puzzle picture for young students.