On North Carolina's Outer Banks coastal marshes are home to waterfowl fish birds mammals and amphibians 6
There are two general types of wetlands coastal sometimes called tidal and inland We find coastal wetlands near the ocean where saltwater mixes with fresh water to form varying degrees of brackish water In coastal wetlands the water levels vary throughout the day due to the changing tides Few plants grow well under these conditions so many shallow coastal wetlands are barren mud flats or sand flats However in some wetlands we can find grasses or mangroves that have adapted to the salty water 7
Inland wetlands contain fresh water They may be found along rivers and streams near lakes and ponds or off by themselves surrounded by dry land In England grasses growing along an estuary help small animals hide from their predators 8
Permanent wetlands contain water year round while seasonal wetlands are wet 6 months or less Temporary wetlands contain water for only 30 days or less each year Wetlands in Colorado’s Gunnison National Forest provide food and water to migratory birds 9
