A comparison of physical characteristics between transplanted and natural Spartina Alterniflora marshes in lower Galveston Bay, Texas

Five natural and ten transplanted Spartina alterniflora marshes in the Lower Galveston bay System were compared to determine if there were significantly different physical characteristics associated with each type of marsh. The transplanted marshes were categorized into young, old, dredge spoil, and shoreline type marshes. The salt marshes were compared on the basis of microhabitats, length-width ratio, area perimeter ratio, marsh-water interface, total size of S. alterniflora habitat, fetch distances, angle of exposure, orientation, and elevation. All physical measurements, except for elevation, were obtained with the use of a Geographic Information System.