Estuaries – Where salt meets fresh Reference Info for Biomes Project.

Estuaries – Where Estuaries – Where salt meets freshsalt meets fresh

Reference Info for Biomes Reference Info for Biomes ProjectProject

What are estuaries?What are estuaries? Estuaries are…Estuaries are…

• Partially enclosed bodies of water where freshwater from Partially enclosed bodies of water where freshwater from streams and rivers mix with saltwater from the streams and rivers mix with saltwater from the ocean/seaocean/sea

• Transition points from land to sea and from fresh to salt Transition points from land to sea and from fresh to salt water.water.

Tidally driven, but sheltered from the full force of the Tidally driven, but sheltered from the full force of the ocean’s wind and waves by reefs, barrier islands, sand, ocean’s wind and waves by reefs, barrier islands, sand, or mudflatsor mudflats

Transition zones between the marine-dominated systems Transition zones between the marine-dominated systems of the ocean and the upland river systemsof the ocean and the upland river systems

Among the most biologically productive ecosystems on Among the most biologically productive ecosystems on Earth Earth

Picture of the Rio de la Plata http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estuary

Salt meets freshSalt meets fresh

Freshwater is lighter than seawater and therefore flows above it forming a bottom layer of salt water called a salt wedge

Nutrients carried in from salt wedge transform estuaries into very fertile areas for plant growth

Picture from www.narrabay.com/empact/waterQualityInfo.asp

Plant life in estuariesPlant life in estuaries

1 hectare = 10000 square meters

• There is more plant life in an estuary than any other habitat

Picture from http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?pid=0&id=226&cid=2

Animals in estuariesAnimals in estuaries Estuaries contain many organismsEstuaries contain many organisms Some animals living in estuaries include:Some animals living in estuaries include:

– sea turtles, sea lions, mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp, sea turtles, sea lions, mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp, snails, amphipods, segmented worms, lugworms, and fishsnails, amphipods, segmented worms, lugworms, and fish

– More unique animals include: horseshoe crabs, ospreys, More unique animals include: horseshoe crabs, ospreys, manatees, and mangrovesmanatees, and mangroves

Only a few species of organisms live their entire lives in Only a few species of organisms live their entire lives in estuaries. Other wild animals live there at some stage of their estuaries. Other wild animals live there at some stage of their lives. Some fish spawn in estuaries and certain species of lives. Some fish spawn in estuaries and certain species of sandpipers migrate to estuaries and some point in the year.sandpipers migrate to estuaries and some point in the year.

http://sticksoffire.com/2007/08/17/preserving-bullfrog-creek-and-history/

http://kentsimmons.uwinnipeg.ca/16cm05/1116/33-28-HorseshoeCrabs.jpg

Plants in estuariesPlants in estuaries

Sea grass, lyngbyei’s Sedge, saltwort, eelgrass, cordgrass Sea grass, lyngbyei’s Sedge, saltwort, eelgrass, cordgrass (on Atlantic Coast), alkali grass (in the Artic), and algae (on Atlantic Coast), alkali grass (in the Artic), and algae

Because plants have different tolerance levels for salt, Because plants have different tolerance levels for salt, most types of plants flourish in different areas of an most types of plants flourish in different areas of an estuary. estuary.

Estuaries around the Estuaries around the worldworld

Estuaries in the U.S. include Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, Boston Harbor, Tampa Bay and Puget Sound

Human impactHuman impact In the past, many people believed estuaries as wasted In the past, many people believed estuaries as wasted

land and thus built dams. Dams block natural stream land and thus built dams. Dams block natural stream and river routes thus cutting off freshwater from and river routes thus cutting off freshwater from estuaries. When that happens, the fresh and saltwater estuaries. When that happens, the fresh and saltwater balance of the estuary is changed and estuary wildlife is balance of the estuary is changed and estuary wildlife is damaged.damaged.

Increased human growth has added more nutrients to Increased human growth has added more nutrients to estuaries (mainly from sewage), which has contributed estuaries (mainly from sewage), which has contributed to marine animal disease, and toxic algal blooms.to marine animal disease, and toxic algal blooms.– Seafood safety has now become a concern because Seafood safety has now become a concern because

certain shellfish and fish have been infected with certain shellfish and fish have been infected with algal toxins capable of paralytic or diarrhetic effects algal toxins capable of paralytic or diarrhetic effects on humans.on humans.

Kumgang Estuary Dam in South Korea kalaniosullivan.com/Korea/KunsanCity/Kunsan3.html

Toxic algal bloom at Lemolo Lake

An endangered specieAn endangered specie The Florida Manatee is under protection from the Endangered The Florida Manatee is under protection from the Endangered

Species Act of 1973.Species Act of 1973. Found in Florida and southwestern Georgia in estuariesFound in Florida and southwestern Georgia in estuaries The main cause of this is human intervention. The main cause of this is human intervention.

– Hunting has greatly reduced the population Hunting has greatly reduced the population – Pollution by humans has killed a lot of seagrass and other aquatic Pollution by humans has killed a lot of seagrass and other aquatic

foods which the Florida Manatee feeds on.foods which the Florida Manatee feeds on.– Population growth and city development has destroyed much of Population growth and city development has destroyed much of

the manatee habitatthe manatee habitat– Manatee collisions with watercrafts accounted for 78 deaths in Manatee collisions with watercrafts accounted for 78 deaths in

2000.2000. In October 2007, the IUCN stated that there were less than In October 2007, the IUCN stated that there were less than

2500 mature individuals of the Florida Manatee.2500 mature individuals of the Florida Manatee.

http://www.naturesresortfla.com/images/manatee1.jpg

What is so unique/important What is so unique/important about estuaries?about estuaries?

Estuaries are more than just a place for animals and Estuaries are more than just a place for animals and plants to live. They also help control pollution. Water plants to live. They also help control pollution. Water from upland areas often carries sediment and from upland areas often carries sediment and pollutants. The marshy land and plants in estuaries pollutants. The marshy land and plants in estuaries filter these pollutants out of the water. filter these pollutants out of the water.

Estuaries also protect inland areas from flooding and Estuaries also protect inland areas from flooding and storm surges. When a storm hits, estuaries often storm surges. When a storm hits, estuaries often absorb water from the storm before it can reach absorb water from the storm before it can reach upland areas.upland areas.

Multiple Choice Question Multiple Choice Question #1#1

What is an estuary?What is an estuary?

a)a) One of the least productive ecosystems in One of the least productive ecosystems in the worldthe world

b)b) A habitat for only a few species able to adapt A habitat for only a few species able to adapt to the environmentto the environment

c)c) Transition zone between oceans and seasTransition zone between oceans and seas

d)d) Where saltwater from the ocean/sea mix with Where saltwater from the ocean/sea mix with freshwater from rivers/streamsfreshwater from rivers/streams

e)e) All of the aboveAll of the above

Multiple Choice Question Multiple Choice Question #1#1The correct answer is:The correct answer is:

a)a) One of the least productive ecosystems in the One of the least productive ecosystems in the worldworld

b)b) A habitat for only a few species able to adapt to A habitat for only a few species able to adapt to the environmentthe environment

c)c) Transition zone between oceans and seasTransition zone between oceans and seas

d)d) Where saltwater from the ocean/sea mix with Where saltwater from the ocean/sea mix with freshwater from rivers/streamsfreshwater from rivers/streams



Why are estuaries important to the Why are estuaries important to the environement?environement?

a)a) They help control global warmingThey help control global warming

b)b) They help control pollutionThey help control pollution

c)c) They protect inland areas from floods and They protect inland areas from floods and stormsstorms

d)d) A, B and CA, B and C

e)e) B and CB and C


The correct answer isThe correct answer is

a)a) They help control global warmingThey help control global warming

b)b) They help control pollutionThey help control pollution

c)c) They protect inland areas from floods and They protect inland areas from floods and stormsstorms

d)d) A, B and CA, B and C

e)e) B and CB and C


What are some of the animals that What are some of the animals that live in an estuary?live in an estuary?

a)a) Only plants live in estuariesOnly plants live in estuaries

b)b) Kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, and WombatsKangaroos, Tasmanian devils, and Wombats

c)c) Fish, shellfish, horseshoe crabs, and birdsFish, shellfish, horseshoe crabs, and birds

d)d) Scorpions, sea snakes, snails, and batsScorpions, sea snakes, snails, and bats

e)e) Shrimp, shellfish, sharks, chickens, and Shrimp, shellfish, sharks, chickens, and marlins marlins



a)a) Only plants live in estuariesOnly plants live in estuaries

b)b) Kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, and WombatsKangaroos, Tasmanian devils, and Wombats

c)c) Fish, shellfish, horshoe crabs, and birdsFish, shellfish, horshoe crabs, and birds

d)d) Scorpions, sea snakes, snails, and batsScorpions, sea snakes, snails, and bats

e)e) Shrimp, shellfish, sharks, chickens, and Shrimp, shellfish, sharks, chickens, and marlins marlins


Which of the following species is an Which of the following species is an example of an endangered specie example of an endangered specie in estuaries?in estuaries?

a)a) Horseshoe crabHorseshoe crab

b)b) Indian Western ManateeIndian Western Manatee

c)c) Western SandpiperWestern Sandpiper

d)d) Florida ManateeFlorida Manatee

e)e) WhitefishWhitefish



a)a) Horseshoe crabHorseshoe crab

b)b) Indian Western ManateeIndian Western Manatee

c)c) Western SandpiperWestern Sandpiper

d)d) Florida ManateeFlorida Manatee

e)e) WhitefishWhitefish


How have humans impacted How have humans impacted estuaries?estuaries?

a)a) Hunting manateesHunting manatees

b)b) Crashing into manatees with water vehiclesCrashing into manatees with water vehicles

c)c) Pollution of manatee waters Pollution of manatee waters

d)d) Destruction of manatee habitatDestruction of manatee habitat




a)a) Hunting manateesHunting manatees

b)b) Crashing into manatees with water vehiclesCrashing into manatees with water vehicles

c)c) Pollution of manatee waters Pollution of manatee waters

d)d) Destruction of manatee habitatDestruction of manatee habitat


ReferencesReferences

http://www.estuaries.gov/about.htmlhttp://www.estuaries.gov/about.html http://www.inforain.org/mapsatwork/oregonestuary/http://www.inforain.org/mapsatwork/oregonestuary/ http://inlet.geol.sc.edu/estecohp.htmlhttp://inlet.geol.sc.edu/estecohp.html http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?pid=0&id=226&cid=2http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?pid=0&id=226&cid=2 http://wps.prenhall.com/http://wps.prenhall.com/

esm_thurman_introocean_9/0,7305,348196-,00.htmlesm_thurman_introocean_9/0,7305,348196-,00.html http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/kids/about/http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/kids/about/

what.htmwhat.htm http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Manatee/manatee-http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Manatee/manatee-

gen-facts.htmgen-facts.htm

Estuaries – Where salt meets fresh Reference Info for Biomes Project.

Documents

Transcript of Estuaries – Where salt meets fresh Reference Info for Biomes Project.