An expert on estuarine biology, Weis (biological sciences, Rutgers U., New Jersey) teams up with popular natural science writer Butler to introduce students and general readers to a habitats that have been considered wasteland for centuries, but have been afforded some protection more recently. Their first section is on natural history, and covers the basics, the plants, and the animals of the salt marsh. Then they sample human alterations to them, including physical alternations, pollution, introducing non-indigenous species, restoration and management for environmental improvement, and the Hackensack Meadowlands as a case study of the death and rebirth of an urban wetland. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)