Tidal creek

Figure 8. A tidal creek with diverse zones. (Photograph by the author. More about the photograph)

This photo shows conditions just a few yards away from the shoreline. As you can see from the banks of this tidal creek, the tidal range is at least a foot, and the tide is out. Cord grass dominates the central, depressed, area of this photo, and in the background enough soil has accumulated to support pines and oaks. To the right, within a few feet of the river bank, an area of intermediate elevation supports salt meadow hay (Spartina patens), wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), marsh elder (Iva frutescens), and seaside goldenrods (Solidago sempervirens). Quite an array of habitats within a small space.

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