Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
(
click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Coastal Saltmarsh in the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions
Gazetted date:
04 Jun 2004
Profile last updated:
23 Mar 2022
Description
Coastal Saltmarsh occurs in the intertidal zone on the shores of estuaries and lagoons that are permanently or intermittently open to the sea. It is frequently found as a zone on the landward side of mangrove stands. Characteristic plants include Baumea juncea, Sea Rush (Juncus krausii subsp. australiensis), Samphire (Sarcocornia quinqueflora subsp. quinqueflora), Marine Couch (Sporobolus virginicus), Streaked Arrowgrass (Triglochin striata), Knobby Club-rush (Ficinia nodosa), Creeping Brookweed (Samolus repens), Swamp Weed (Selliera radicans), Seablite (Suaeda australis) and Prickly Couch (Zoysia macrantha). Occasionally mangroves are scattered through the saltmarsh. Tall reeds may also occur, as well as salt pans.
Distribution
This community occurs in the intertidal zone along the NSW coast.
Habitat and ecology
- Species composition varies with elevation and latitude, with Saltmarsh in southern NSW being generally more species-rich than further north.
- The sediment surface may support a diversity of seaweed species.
- Species restricted to coastal saltmarshes include Distichlis distichophylla (Endangered), Halosarcia pergranulata subsp. pergranulata, Wilsonia backhousei (Vulnerable) and Wilsonia rotundifolia (Endangered).
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Illegal land use conversion for development and foreshore protection works.
- Altered hydrological regime including dredging, tidal barriers, drainage and flood mitigation works, entrance works, and ground water alteration.
- Grazing and trampling by stock.
- Grazing and trampling by feral herbivores.
- Habitat degradation including erosion, soil compaction and disturbance caused by recreational activities such as vehicles, access tracks and boat traffic.
- Storm water discharge creating freshwater channels and spreading weeds (include quality and quantity).
- Dumping of rubbish, waste and pollution.
- Mowing and gardening of saltmarsh.
- Weed invasion including but not limited to non-native saltmarsh species such as Juncus acutus and Spartina spp and non-native terrestrial invasive species such as kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus).
- Climate change and sea level rise.
- Incursion of mangrove species.
Recovery strategies
A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click
here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click
here
Activities to assist this species
- Protect areas of saltmarsh from runoff that contains high levels of nutrients or pollutants.
- Reduce the amount of sediment reaching the estuary to reduce migration of mangroves.
- Maintain buffer zones of terrestrial vegetation adjacent to saltmarsh to allow for expansion of saltmarsh and to minimise nutrient flow.
- Allow areas of saltmarsh to regenerate naturally where possible.
- Protect from clearing and development through fencing, signage and active management.
- Minimise human disturbance by preventing access from recreational vehicles, including four wheel drives.
- Erect educational signs to provide information to visitors and residents of the importance of coastal saltmarsh.
- Undertake weed control programs.
- Prohibit grazing and burning.
- Restore natural hydrological regime by removing stormwater drains or artificial structures that restrict tidal flows.
- Consult with Department of Primary Industries (formerly NSW Fisheries) to determine an appropriate mangrove management program.
Information sources
- Adam, P. (1990) Saltmarsh ecology. (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge)
- Adam, P. (1994) Saltmarsh and Mangrove. Pp. 395-436 in Groves, R.H. (ed.) Australian Vegetation. 2nd Edition. (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge)
- Adam, P. (1995) Saltmarsh. In: Zann, L.P. (ed). State of the Marine Environment Report for Australia - Technical Annex: 1. (Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage, Canberra)
- Adam, P. (2002) Saltmarshes in a time of change. Environmental Conservation 29(1):39-61.
- Adam, P. and Stricker, J. (1993) Wetlands of the Sydney Region. (Nature Conservation Council, Sydney)
- Adam, P., Wilson, N.C. and Huntley, B. (1988) The phytosociology of coastal saltmarsh vegetation in New South Wales. Wetlands (Australia) 7(2):35-85
- Adam, Paul (1980) Australian Saltmarshes. Wetlands (Australia) 1(1): 8-10
- Bell, S.A.J. (2002) The natural vegetation of the Wyong Local Government Area, Central Coast, New South Wales: Technical Report. Unpublished Final Report to Wyong Shire Council, Eastcoast Flora Survey.
- Bell, S.A.J. (2004) The natural vegetation of Gosford Local Government Area, Central Coast, New South Wales: Part 1 - Technical Report. Report to Gosford City Council.
- Bellingen Shire Council (2006) Coastal Vegetation of the Bellingen Local Government Area. A report by Flametree Ecological Consultants for Bellingen Shire Council.
- Benson, D.H. (1986) The vegetation of the Gosford and Lake Macquarie 1:100 000 Vegetation Map Sheet. Cunninghamia 1(4): 467-490.
- Benson, D.H. and Howell, J. (1993) A strategy for the rehabilitation of the riparian vegetation of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. (Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
- Benson, D.H. and Howell, J. (1994) The natural vegetation of the Sydney 1:100 000 mapsheet. Cunninghamia 3(4): 679-789
- Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (2008) Saltwater Wetlands Rehabilitation Manual. (DECC NSW, Sydney)
- Department of Environment and Conservation NSW (2004) North East NSW Field Key to Forest Ecosystems. Natural Resource Management Field Assessment Guidelines. (DEC NSW, North East Branch, Coffs Harbour)
- Fisher, M., Body, M. and Gill, J. (1996) Vegetation Idenification and Classification of the Coffs Harbour City Council LGA. A report to Coffs Harbour City Council by North East Vegetation Surveys.
- Gellie, N.J.H. (2005) Native Vegetation of the Southern Forests: South-east Highlands, Australian Alps, South-west Slopes, and SE Corner bioregions. Cunninghamia 9(2): 219-253
- Gilmour, P. (2006) Vegetation Communities of the Central Coast Region of NSW. In McCauley, A., DeVries, R., Elith, J. and Gilmour, P. Vegetation of Regional Significance on the NSW Central Coast. (HCR CMA and Hunter Councils Inc. NSW)
- Graham, M. (2001) Water habitats of the Clarence, Coffs coastal and Bellinger catchments. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour)
- Graham, M. (2001) Water habitats of the Manning and Port Stephens/Wallis Lake catchments. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour)
- Graham, M. (2001) Water habitats of the Nambucca, Macleay and Hastings catchments. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour)
- Graham, M. (2001) Water habitats of the Tweed, Brunswick and Richmond Catchments. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour)
- Harty, C. (2001) A planning methodology for protecting saltmarsh, mangrove and seagrass wetlands in NSW and Victoria. Wetlands (Australia) 19(2): 103-109
- Harty, C. and Cheng, D. (2003) Ecological assessment and strategies for the management of mangroves in Brisbane Water - Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. Landscape and Urban Planning 62(4):219-240.
- Haworth, R. (2002) Changes in mangroves/saltmarsh distribution in the Georges River estuary, Southern Sydney, 1930-1970. Wetlands (Australia) 20(2): 80-103
- Howell, J., McDougall, L. and Benson, D. (1995) Riverside Plants of the Hawkesbury-Nepean. (Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Trust and Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
- James, T. McDougall, L. and Benson, D.H. (1999) Rare Bushland Plants of Western Sydney. Second edition. (Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
- Keith, D. and Bedward, M. (1999) Native Vegetation of the South East Forests Region, Eden, NSW. Cunninghamia 6(1) 1-218
- Keith, D.A. (1996) Fire-driven mechanisms of extinction in vascular plants: a review of empirical and theoretical evidence in Australian vegetation. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 116: 37-78
- Keith, D.A. (2004) Ocean shores to desert dunes: the native vegetation of New South Wales and the ACT. (NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, Sydney)
- Keith, D.A. and Scott, J. (2005) Native Vegetation of Coastal Floodplains - a diagnosis of the major plant communities in New South Wales. Pacific Conservation Biology 11(2): 81-104
- Keith, D.A., Simpson, C., Tozer, M.G. and Rodoreda, S. (2007) Contemporary and Historical Descriptions of the Vegetation of Brundee and Saltwater Swamps on the Lower Shoalhaven River Floodplain, Southeastern Australia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 128: 123-153
- Kelleway, J. (2004) Ecological impacts of recreational vehicle use on saltmarshes of the Georges River, Sydney. Wetlands (Australia) 22(2): 52-66
- Kendall and Kendall Ecological Consultants (2003) Nambucca Catchment Vegetation Survey. Report prepared for Nambucca Vegetation Sub-committee.
- Kessler, M. (2006) Development of a non-destructive rapid assessment methodology for saltmarsh in urban areas, as tested in Sydney Harbour, NSW, Australia. Wetlands (Australia) 24(1): 1-43
- Kingsford, R.T., Brandis, K., Thomas, R.F., Crighton, P., Knowles, E. and Gale, E. (2004) Classifying landform at broad spatial scales: the distribution and conservation of wetlands in NSW, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 55: 17-31
- Laegdsgaard, P., Monamy, V. and Saintilan, N. (2004) Investigating the presence of threatened insectivorous bats on coastal NSW saltmarsh habitat. Wetlands (Australia) 22(1): 29-41
- Macdonald, T. (2003) Protection and management of saltmarsh in NSW - a NSW Fisheries perspective. Pp. 20-26 in Straw, P (ed). Status and Management of Migratory Shorebirds in Sydney. (Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Homebush)
- Miles, J. (2007) Recognition and Management of Endangered Ecological Communities in the South East Corner of NSW. (Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Bega)
- Mills, K. (2003) The natural vegetation in the municipality of Kiama, NSW. A report prepared by Kevin Mills and Associates for Kiama Municipal Council.
- Mitchell, M. and Adam, P. (1989) The relationship between saltmarsh and mangrove communities in the Sydney region. Wetlands (Australia) 8(2):37-46
- Mitchell, M.L. and Adam, P. (1989) The decline of saltmarsh in Botany Bay. Wetlands (Australia) 8(2):55-60.
- Morrisey, D. (1995) Saltmarshes. Pp. 205-220 in Underwood, A.J. and Chapman, M.G. (eds.) Coastal Marine Ecology of Temperate Australia. (UNSW Press, Sydney)
- Nature Conservation Council of NSW (1999) Towards an Illawarra Regional Vegetation Management Plan. (NCC NSW, Sydney)
- NGH Environmental (2006) Endangered Ecological Communities Survey and Mapping, Coastal Vegetation Communities – Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Saltmarsh. A report by NGH Environmental for Department of Environment and Conservation NSW (Park and Wildlife Division, Southern Branch).
- NGH Environmental (2007) Endangered Ecological Communities Survey and Mapping in Eurobodalla Shire. A report prepared by NGH Environmental for Eurobodalla Shire Council.
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Native Vegetation of the Illawarra Escarpment and Coastal Plain. Wollongong Local Government Area Bioregional Assessment (Part I). (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
- NSW Scientific Committee (2004) Coastal saltmarsh in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions - Endangered ecological community determination - final.
- NSW Scientific Committee (2011) Coastal Saltmarsh in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions - Minor amendment to Endangered ecological community determination.
- Paul, S. and Young, R. (2007) Experimental control of exotic Spiny Rush, Juncus acutus, from Sydney Olympic Park: I. Juncus mortality and regrowth. Wetlands (Australia) 23(2):1-12
- Robinson, L. (2003) Field guide to the native plants of Sydney. 3rd Edition. (Kangaroo Press, East Roseville)
- Saintilan, N. (2003) Balancing shorebird habitat requirements with mangrove conservation. Pp. 15-19 in Straw, P. (ed). Status and Management of Migratory Shorebirds in Sydney. (Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Homebush)
- Saintilan, N. and Williams, R.J. (1999) Mangrove transgression into saltmarsh environments in south-east Australia. Global Ecology and Biogeography 8(2):177-124.
- Saintilan, N. and Williams, R.J. (2000) The decline of saltmarshes in southeast Australia: Results of recent survey. Wetlands (Australia) 18(2):49-54
- Saintilan, N. and Wilton, K. (2001) Changes in the distribution of mangroves and saltmarshes in Jervis Bay, Australia. Wetlands Ecology and Management 9(5): 409-420
- Sainty, G.R. and Jacobs, S.W.L. (1997) Hawkesbury-Nepean: Saltmarsh Assessment. (Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Trust)
- Straw, P. (1999) Hunter River Estuary Wader Habitat Investigation. Unpublished Report to National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney
- Straw, P. (2000) Hunter River Estuary Wader Habitat Investigation Stage 2. Unpublished Report to National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney.
- Telfor, D. and Kendall, P. (2006) Native Vegetation Mapping and Endangered Ecological Community Mapping, Kempsey LGA east. Report to Kempsey Shire Council.
- Thomas, V., Gellie, N., and Harrison, T. (2000) Forest Ecosystem Classification and Mapping for the Southern Comprehensive Regional Assessment. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Queanbeyan)
- Tindall, D., Pennay, C., Tozer, M.G., Turner, K. and Keith, D.A. (2004) Native vegetation map report series No. 4. Araluen, Batemans Bay, Braidwood, Burragorang, Goulburn, Jervis Bay, Katoomba, Kiama, Moss Vale, Penrith, Port Hacking, Sydney, Taralga, Ulladulla, Wollongong (Priority 5 Mapping Area - P5MA). (NSW Dept. of Environment and Climate Change and NSW Dept. of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, Sydney)
- Tozer, M.G., Turner, K., Simpson, C., Keith, D.A., Beukers, P., MacKenzie, B., Tindall, D. and Pennay, C. (2006) Native vegetation of south east NSW: a revised classification and map for the coast and eastern tablelands. V1.0. (NSW Dept. of Environment and Climate Change and NSW Dept. of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, Sydney)
- Underwood, A.J. and Chapman, M.G. (1995) Coastal Marine Ecology of Temperate Australia. (UNSW Press, Sydney)
- West, R., Thorogood, C.A., Walford, T.J. and Williams, R.J. (1985) An estuarine inventory for New South Wales. Fisheries Bulletin 2. (NSW Department of Agriculture, Sydney)
- WetlandCare Australia (2006) Sustainable Wetlands on NSW Coastal Landscapes. Hunter Central Rivers, Catchment Management Authority region. CD-rom (WetlandCare Australia, Ballina, NSW)
- WetlandCare Australia (2006) Sustainable Wetlands on NSW Coastal Landscapes. Northern Rivers, Catchment Management Authority region. CD-rom (WetlandCare Australia, Ballina, NSW)
- Williams, R.J. and Meehan, A.J. (2004) Focusing management needs at the sub-catchment level via assessments of change in the cover of estuarine vegetation, Port Hacking, NSW, Australia. Wetlands Ecology and Management 12(5): 499-518
- Williams, R.J. and Watford, F.A. (1996) An inventory of impediments to tidal flow in NSW estuarine fish habitats. Wetlands (Australia) 15(2):44-54.
- Winning, G.B. (2006) Vegetation changes in a large estuarine wetland subsequent to construction of floodgates: Hexham Swamp in the Lower Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Thesis (Masters). Australian Catholic University.
- Zedler J.B., Nelson P. and Adam P. (1995) Plant community organization in New South Wales saltmarshes: Species mosaics and potential causes. Wetlands (Australia) 14: 1-18
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