WEBVTT

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The ocean its power is enormous.

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At the shoreline where ocean meets
land little can resist its force.

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Soil and sand are swept away.

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However behind the protection of barrier
islands mud and silk deposits are able to

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collect building a base upon which

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specially adapted plants are able
to put down their root systems

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and take hold.

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This is a salt marsh and these
are some of its secrets.

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In contrast to the smashing action of

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the ocean the quiet waters of
the Back Bay support the marsh.

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A vast expanse of waving
grasses and twisting creeks.

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A sensitive world in delicate balance.

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It is one of the most
productive ecosystems on Earth.

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Winter. Many animal species have left for
deeper water higher ground or warmer climates.

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A few remain but are invisible buried
in the mud and inactive for the season.

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This seemingly dead grass even now
holds the key to life in the marsh.

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It is called spar tiny.

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It is the most abundant plant in the salt.

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Marsh. It thrives where a few
plants could even stay alive.

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It\'s roots extend into a salty mud
which holds no oxygen for them.

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Yet it has managed to adapt
to this harsh way of life.

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Through the process of
photosynthesis the sun\'s energy is

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transferred and stored in the vegetation
of the marsh during the growing season.

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The transfer of the sun\'s
energy from a plant to

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a simple animal and onto other more
complex animals is called a food chain.

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In the winter the stems of the grasses
above the ground breakdown and decay.

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But the intertwining
underground stems and routes

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which can\'t be seen from
the surface remain alive.

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This invisible living network

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Helps keep the Mars soil from eroding.

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Most of the value of the marsh for the food
chain comes from decaying plant matter.

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This brown organic mud is called detritus.

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Detritus forms the lifeblood
of the salt marsh.

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Its life is abundant at
the microscopic level.

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It is this microscopic life
that enriches the bits of

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dead grass changing it into a rich
food source for many animal tapes.

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During the winter many species
of ducks and geese including

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these black ducks depend on the
ecosystem of the salt marsh.

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Waterfowl are the most
conspicuous winter inhabitants.

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Brand arrive in October and
are abundant through March.

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They prefer a diet of
eel grass and c. Let us

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Red breasted merge dancers are
members of a group called Ensembles.

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Their bills have a serrated edge
which aids them when diving

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for a fish crustaceans and aquatic insects.

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The buffalo head or the
smallest of the diving ducks.

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The male is easily recognized by

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its big round head and it\'s
striking black and white plumage.

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A small shore bird called
a Dunlap and probes for

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molluscs crustaceans in
shallow unfrozen pools.

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The northern Harrier is a distinctive
hunting hawk in the marsh.

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Its wings beat the air
with powerful strokes.

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It passes into the grass for
its prey of small rodents.

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As spring returns the marshes
filled with activity.

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These Brandt returned to their breeding
grounds in northern Canada and Greenland.

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Spray the harbinger of
spring and the salt marsh

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returned from their southern wintering
grounds and Florida and South America.

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The aspirin nest

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A large structure of sticks which is added to
year after year and all through the season.

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Thousands of migrating shore birds flying

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nonstop from South America to
the mid-Atlantic coast region.

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They use the area as a
stopover point to rest and

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feed before continuing their
trip to Arctic breeding grounds.

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The days grow longer

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the temperatures begin to rise
and life returns to the marsh.

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The first green shoots of the Spartan Up
break through the surface of the mud.

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The marsh becomes
increasingly full and green.

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Sparta China the marshes most important

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lifeform grows again from its
live stems hidden beneath the mud

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Twice each day the tide spring
salty ocean water into the marsh.

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This odd looking crustacean
is called a Fiddler Crab.

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The male has an oversized claw which
makes it look like a bass fiddle player.

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It feeds by separating bits of
organic matter from the mud.

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Fillers have a small specialized claw for
lifting the mud to their mouthparts.

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The males oversized claw is
used in courtship display to

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impress and when a mate and to fight
off any challenges from other males.

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This large claw my way almost half of
the total body weight of the crab.

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A diamond back Terrapin drifts in creeks
with only the tip of its snout showing.

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It likes to eat fiddler crabs.

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In the spring the Terrapin leaves

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its place of winter rest on the
bottom of the tidal creeks and

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ponds the female waits for a high tide

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then climbs up onto land to dig
a nest in which to lay her eggs

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By using a spot above the highest tide she
prevents her eggs from being swamped.

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She uses her specially adapted rear legs
to dig a nest four to five inches deep.

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The sand is flung from the hole
with each forceful stroke.

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Usually eight to 12 eggs
are deposited in the nest.

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The female feels in the hall
and returns to the marsh.

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The great regret is a large Herron
which is active in the spring.

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The male brings nest materials to the
female as part of their mating ritual.

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Great e-cigarettes have
long graceful plumes which

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trail from their backs and
extend beyond their tails.

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During the breeding period their faces
have a distinctive green coloring.

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A great regret stalks its prey
of fish slowly and methodically.

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Marsh water is murky because
it is filled with a mixture of

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suspended mud nutritious
organic matter and plankton.

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Plankton is the term for all
organisms both plant and animal.

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That lives suspended in the water.

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They are either unable to
swim or swim so poorly that

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they are forced to rely upon the
movement of the water for locomotion.

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Phytoplankton are all the plants

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the organisms adrift in the water.

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Animal plankton is called zooplankton.

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Comb jellies are one type of zooplankton.

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These fragile jelly like organisms
are transparent and iridescent.

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When sunlight strikes the
complaints at the right angle.

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Its rays are refracted producing
beautiful prismatic colours.

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This common marsh shrimp
is called a grass shrimp.

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Grass shrimp eggs are fertilized
outside their bodies.

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Progressively the food chain builds as one
species relies upon another for its existence.

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Filter feeders such as ribbed
muscles and small fish

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also rely on the rich plant and animal
material suspended in the water.

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They in turn are eaten by larger
animals and birds such as this no ego

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During the summer young are hatched and
a lot of energy is spent feeding them.

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The spray will generally
brood three checks.

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The spray feeds exclusively on fish.

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Other young are also growing during
this time of warm breezes and tall.

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Grasses. Great eagle chicks grow quickly on
the abundant food supply from the marsh.

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At low tide a clapper rail comes
out with its young to forage for

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fiddler crabs worms and insects
along the tidal Creek edges.

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Laughing goals Nast enlarge
colonies on Marshall Islands.

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It is a place of noisy activity.

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The nests are placed close
to one another directly on

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the marsh grass along the
creek edges and high marsh.

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Usually three eggs are laid

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The young are fed by their parents
until they are able to fly.

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Later in the summer the eggs of the
diamond backed her up and begin to hatch.

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The hatchlings pulsate in
their struggle to break free.

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They did their way out of the nest and hurry
to the protection of the tidal Creek.

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Vast changes take place in the fall.

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Plants such as Martina
flour and produce seeds.

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Monarch butterflies feed
on the seaside golden rod

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along the upland marsh edges
during their migration south

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The days now grow shorter and the
temperature is begin to drop.

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These changes act as a signal
for the plants and animals of

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the salt marsh many species prepare for
migration to southern wintering grounds.

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Fall like this spring
is a time of movement.

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And other productive year draws
to a close in the salt marsh

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The salt marsh is an important place for
animals plants and ultimately people.

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It is a habitat in nursery for
many species of fish and birds.

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It purifies the water and buffers

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the mainland from the violent
action of the ocean waves.

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A salt marsh is at very special.

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Mm-hm.