英语词汇marsh的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

marsh; marsh gas. Marsh derives from the Middle English mershe, which comes from the Old English mersc. Marshes, of- ten a transition between water and land, generally contain grasses, sedges, cattails, and rushes, as well as methane gas, of- ten called “marsh gas” or “swamp gas,” resulting from the de- composition of organic matter. Salt marshes, composed of Spartina grasses, are far more productive than wheat or hay fields, producing up to 10 tons of organic material per acre, compared to four tons produced by an acre of hay and two tons produced by an acre of wheat. Several studies have estimated the following average yearly values per acre of marsh: $100 in commercial and sports fisheries by-products; $630 in aquacul- ture potential, such as the harvesting of oysters; $2,500 in terti- ary waste treatment potential, the marsh’s capability for removal of phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulphur, compared with the cost of equivalent treatment by man-made facilities; and $4,100 in life-support value, the marsh’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, support waterfowl and other animals, and protect cities and beaches from the damaging effects of storms. That’s $7,330 an acre, compared to the $107 yield-per-acre fig- ure for an acre of corn.

词汇	marsh
词源	marsh; marsh gas. Marsh derives from the Middle English mershe, which comes from the Old English mersc. Marshes, of- ten a transition between water and land, generally contain grasses, sedges, cattails, and rushes, as well as methane gas, of- ten called “marsh gas” or “swamp gas,” resulting from the de- composition of organic matter. Salt marshes, composed of Spartina grasses, are far more productive than wheat or hay fields, producing up to 10 tons of organic material per acre, compared to four tons produced by an acre of hay and two tons produced by an acre of wheat. Several studies have estimated the following average yearly values per acre of marsh: $100 in commercial and sports fisheries by-products; $630 in aquacul- ture potential, such as the harvesting of oysters; $2,500 in terti- ary waste treatment potential, the marsh’s capability for removal of phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulphur, compared with the cost of equivalent treatment by man-made facilities; and $4,100 in life-support value, the marsh’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, support waterfowl and other animals, and protect cities and beaches from the damaging effects of storms. That’s $7,330 an acre, compared to the $107 yield-per-acre fig- ure for an acre of corn.
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