The Gulf Coast of Northwestern Florida has large stretches of protected saltmarsh which are recognized as important marine-life nursery areas and are heralded for their biological productivity.The plant communityies of t he marsh are typically limited in species diversity. Shallow lagoons, salty bays, and brackish estuaries punctuate the coastline and are among the world's most productive ecosystems. Estuaries are brackish environments that exist in the narrow zone where freshwater mixes with salt.