Abstract
Coastal saltmarsh develops in those parts of the intertidal zone where the fine sediments carried in suspension by coastal waters are deposited. The chapter reviews the functional aspects of the ecology of saltmarsh communities. It discusses the problems associated with current knowledge and opportunities for future work, particularly those aspects amenable to experimentation. It examines three main issues: (1) the striking zonation of the environment and the selection pressures that it imposes on the plants, (2) the relationship between zonation and succession, and (3) the possible role of plant competition and biotic interactions in structuring saltmarsh communities and their zonation. It also highlights the potential importance of research into saltmarsh plant communities for future coastal defense in an era of rapidly rising sea level.
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