B-4 



Opossum Didelphis marsupialis 

 Least Shrew Cryptotis parva 

 Least cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus 

 Rice rat Oryzomys palustris 

 Meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus 

 Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus 

 Raccoon Procyon lotor 

 • Mink Mustela vison 



River otter Lutra canadensis 



White tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus 



Critical environmental factors in the salt marsh include 

 salinity, frequency of inundation, and nutrient input and flushing 

 action of the tides. 



Brackish Marsh 



The brackish marsh community develops in the transition 

 zone between freshwater and salt marshes. Brackish marshes are 

 located along bays and coastal rivers and are irregularly inundated 

 by high winds and storms. 



Several different plant associations are characteristic 

 of this major community type. A short form of saltmarsh cordgrass 

 Spartina alternif lora usually dominates the well drained areas. In 

 the more poorly drained depressions, Olney's three-square Scirpus 

 olneyi dominates with salt grass Distichlis spicata and black 

 needlerush Juncus roemerianus occurring more abundantly along the 

 better drained edges of such depressions. The taller form of salt- 

 marsh cordgrass Spartina alternif lora may be found in abundance 

 adjacent to tidal creeks, while saltmeadow cordgrass Spartina 

 patens dominates in well drained soils adjacent to pond and creek 

 borders. In the more elevated and drier areas, groundsel Baccharis 

 halimifolia and marsh elder Iva f rutescens are common. Other 

 important plants in brackish marshes include widgeongrass Ruppia 

 maritima,atriplex Atriplex patula , sea lavender Limonium carolinianum , 

 seashore mallow Kosteletskya virginica and glasswort Salicornia spp . 



Typical animals include: 



Mud crabs Xanthidae 



Blue crab Callinectes sapidus 



Saltmarsh snail Me lamp us bidentatus 



Periwinkle snail Littorina irrorata 



Canada goose Branta canadensis 



Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 



Black duck Anas rubripes 



