Coastal wetlands are among our most important fish and wildlife habitats. For example, over two-thirds of our recreationally and commercially important marine fishes depend on coastal marshes and associated waters for nursery and spawning grounds.

This book is arranged in four major sections: (1) Coastal Wetland Ecology: A General Overview, (2) Identification of Coastal Wetland Plants, (3) Wetland Plant Descriptions and Illustrations, and (4) Places to Observe Coastal Wetlands, and (5) Sources of Other Information. In addition , a list of references used in preparing this book and a glossary of technical terms are provided.

RALPH W. TINER is a nationally recognized wetland ecologist with more than 40 years of experience mapping tidal marshes an other wetlands. He has directed the federal government's National Wetlands Inventory in 13 states for over 35 years and, as an adjunct professor has taught courses in wetland plant identification/ecology and wetland delineation/classification at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is currently treasurer for the U.S. National Ramsar Committee and also serves as the editor of Wetland Science and Practice (a journal of the Society of Wetland Scientists). To date, he has written over two hundred d publications including two field guides published by the University of Massachusetts Press.