The abiotic factors in salt marshes include:
1. High, variable salinity
2. Low oxygen levels
3. Turbidity
4. Varying temperature
5. Sulphide toxicity
Salt marshes occur in zones between low and high tides. Salt marshes are periodically flooded by tides , so the plants living there have had to adapt to being submerged in salt water.
Only a limited number of plant and animal species can tolerate the harsh conditions of salt marshes and therefore salt marshes are generally poor in species.