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Some authors consider the brackish marsh that supports S. robustus, S. olneyi (S. americanus), and Spartina patens the most productive fish and wildlife habitat in the nation (Palmisano 1970). The drastic decline in muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) in Louisiana from the mid-1940's to the mid-1960's is linked to the reduction of Scirpus robustus and S. olneyi by the more competitive Spartina patens, S. cynosuroides, and Distichlis spicata (Palmisano and Newsom 1968). Despite their importance to wildlife, I found no published life histories of Scirpus maritimus and S. robustus. However, several papers address their phenology, growth, and production as well as the effects of various environmental factors of S. maritimus on the species (Hejny 1973; Visperas and Vergara 1976a,b; Lieffers and Shay 1981, 1982a,b; Podlejski 1981, 1982; Dykyjova 1986; Karagatzides and Hutchinson 1991). Other researchers have documented the reproduction, habitat requirements, and management of S. robustus (Neely 1960, 1962; Palmisano and Newsom 1968; Mall 1969; Palmisano 1972; George 1980; Prevost and Gresham 1981).

I present here a synthesis of life histories and management assessment of alkali and saltmarsh bulrushes. The information is mostly from reports written in English, from reports with English summaries, and from some foreign material. I did not reference the simple occurrence of either bulrush in various wetlands worldwide or early taxonomic and genetic studies.