A new idea in marsh coring: The wedge

Standard coring techniques are often ineffective in the unconsolidated and vegetated soils and sediments of marsh environments. In this paper, a novel coring device is presented that minimizes the problems of compaction, core plugging, and root disturbance to allow the collection of intact 35+ cm cores from densely vegetated marsh areas. The simple concept uses a sharpened main body and cover plate that are inserted sequentially to obtain a wedge-shaped soil or sediment slice. In a typical application, the corer is transferred to the field laboratory where sectioning can occur. Removal of the cover plate exposes a large surface area of soil or sediment for visual inspection and sampling. The advantages of the wedge corer design are described in relation to its use in a Spartina alterniflora salt marsh.