Tidal marshes as outwelling/pulsing systems

Now that we are beginning to understand that the balance of nature is a pulsing one and not a steady-state as is the case at the organism level (i.e., homeorhesis rather than homeostasis) estuaries become important sites for research because they pulse so strongly. The external tidal pulses interface in a complex manner with internal biological and life history pulses. I review the concept that productivity of near shore ocean waters can be enhanced not only by upwelling of nutrients from deeper waters but also by outwelling of nutrients and organic matter from fertile estuaries. I conclude 1) that the extent of the latter depends on the level of production within the estuary, the tidal amplitude and the geomorphology of the estuarine landscape and 2) the outwelling from tidal marshes where it occurs is often intermittent and largest during rain storms and storm tides.