Upland Migration Study of the Kent Street Marsh

My name is Amelia DiCosimo and I am a senior at Scituate High School. I've always been interested in ecology and the natural world but I started conducting research in the summer of 2023. I worked with Dr. Sarah Grady, Mr. Perrotto, and some other students from my school to study salt marsh grasses as a continuation of Dr. Grady's previous work. This experience stuck with me and I was encouraged to write a grant to the Marjot Foundation to conduct my own research on upland migration and the health of salt marshes. I won the grant and conducted my project this summer with the help of Alex Mansfield from North South River Watershed and the volunteers I recruited. I did other work with Mr. Mansfield this summer including mussel surveys and research on other marshes.

1. The experiment was carried out using random sampling by which transects were selected using the  RISMA Protocol 
2. 4 transects were selected so that standardized observations can be made
3. Fieldwork was focused on the shoreside of the marsh
4. Once on site, the predesignated transect was located using GPS and a tape measure was extended starting at the upland edge up to the lowland edge
5. Two types of data were collected, those being a belt survey and a quadrat survey
6. The main data analyzed was quadrat which is conducted by placing a 1m by 1m quadrat, a frame made of PVC pipes that is used to isolate a standard area, along the transect every 10m
7. Any other significant observations such as the formation of pannes, shallow flooded depressions which indicate poor drainage, were also recorded. 

Growth comparison graphs demonstrate the percentages of bare ground, Alterniflora grass, and other species. Transect 1 began at the edge of a creek, which explains why 85% of the quadrat was composed of TA, given that this is an area of highly maintained salinity. Moving along the transect, the species transition to the expected high-marsh grasses such as DS and SP up until around 50m. At this point, it was observed that pannes,  depressions filled with undrained seawater, appeared to be forming. This explains the prominence of SA in the upper marsh. These areas of high salinity are not expected to exist at this point in the

Transect 2 also begins at the edge of the major channel and runs east, parallel to several ditches. The abundance of TA is explained by proximity to the channel, while the rest of the quadrats were primarily covered by SP, a high marsh alterniflora variation (not included in the “alterniflora” category of the graph). This indicates this area of the marsh is healthy. However, on-site it was observed that pannes were forming nearby to the quadrat placement around 24m and 44m. The lack of growth at 10m is unnatural, and can potentially be attributed to higher salinity levels restricting the growth of SP. The high percent coverage of TA at 80m and 110m is attributed to proximity to ditches. Data at 130m can be disregarded as it was taken outside of the confines of the survey area. Overall Transect 2 appears to be healthier than Transect 1 based on raw data.

Unlike Transect 1 and 2, Transect 3 does not begin at the edge of a creek or channel, but rather a small forested area in close proximity to a residential neighborhood. In addition, it is not crossed by any ditches so there is no TA growth present. A small amount of transitionary SA was observed which is normal. Only one salt panne was observed to be forming around 60m. This transect appears to be largely healthy and is dominated by SP as well as other high marsh species like JG.

Transect 4 begins up against a channel, which explains the presence of TA. Transitionary SA and high-marsh plants are indicative of the fact that this transect is healthy. Some pannes were observed in the area, however, they have yet to affect growth patterns. This transect ends at the edge of a sizable residential neighborhood and is distanced from the shoreline. 

Ocean literacy is a very important part of my life, not only because I live in a coastal community but also because I am deeply concerned about the health of marine/intertidal environments. As someone who has studied the effects of rising sea levels on the health of salt marshes which are some of the primary defenders against flooding, wave action, and erosion it is evident the correlation between the health of these environments and damage to anthropogenic areas.

As the president of the Environmental Club at Scituate High School, I led a cleanup at Peggotty Beach as well as the accessible areas of the Kent Street Marsh. We filled all the bags we had in around 2 hours (pictured above) and found disturbing amounts of small plastic fragments that were unable to be efficiently removed.

Salt marshes provide food, shelter, and nursery grounds for around 75% of coastal fishery species, as found in Stellwagen Bank. Salt marshes are also critical for seabird species as sources of food or spaces to stop over during migration. However, as they migrate or degrade this crucial environment becomes less habitable for these species.

My research in the past two years has not only given me a greater understanding of the beauty and importance of the ocean and intertidal zones but also taught me how threatened they are by anthropogenic activity. I have learned so much about how scientific research is conducted and will likely carry on to major in some form of environmental science/studies in college as a result. The creation of areas like Stellwaggen Bank is crucial to the protection of species and I hope to be able to encourage a similar protection for South Shore salt marshes. While visually entirely different, the salt marsh and the open ocean are interconnected through the life cycles and daily ventures of marine organisms and both are heavily impacted by rising sea levels and pollution.