Email Print Share

All Images


News Release 12-199

Why Are Coastal Salt Marshes Falling Apart?

Too many nutrients can cause extensive loss of marshes

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

Photo of a green salt marsh.

Where are all the salt marshes going? Excess nutrients may be to blame for their decline.

Credit: NSF Plum Island Ecosystems LTER Site


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (923 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

A map showing the location of the Plum Island Ecosystems (PIE).

Plum Island Ecosystems, PIE at right on the map, is one of 26 NSF Long-Term Ecological Research sites.

Credit: NSF LTER Network


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (374 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Parker River mouth through Plum Island's salt marshes.

The mouth of the Parker River is a major channel through Plum Island's salt marshes.

Credit: NSF Plum Island Ecosystems LTER Site


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (1 MB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Map showing the Plum Island, Mass., and the Atlantic coast.

Salt marshes and tidal creeks abound at Plum Island, Mass., and along the Atlantic coast.

Credit: NSF Plum Island Ecosystems LTER Site


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (1 MB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Photo of two tidal channels in salt marsh, or Spartina, grass.

Tidal channels in salt marsh, or Spartina, grass. What is their capacity for carrying nutrients?

Credit: NSF Plum Island Ecosystems LTER Site


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (58 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Photo of Scientists Erik Yando and Clara Chaisson measuring marsh that has slumped into a creek.

Scientists Erik Yando and Clara Chaisson measure marsh that has slumped into a creek.

Credit: David Johnson


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (4 MB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.