ESTUARIES: Definition, Importance, Kinds, Ecosystems, and Threats

ESTUARY is a body of water, and their surrounding wetlands usually found where rivers meet the sea. it is also an area where fresh water from rivers and salt water from the sea mix. Many plants and animals inhabit estuaries and benefit from their rich resources. Different kinds of habitats can be found in estuaries and their surroundings.

1. ESTUARIES

2. DEFINITION OF ESTUARIES ESTUARY – a body of water and their surrounding wetlands usually found where rivers meet the sea An area where fresh water from rivers and salt water from the sea mix

3. DEFINITION OF ESTUARIES Semi-closed land Many plants and animals inhabit estuaries and benefit from their rich resources

4. DEFINITION OF ESTUARIES Different kinds of habitats can be found in estuaries and their surroundings:

5. COASTAL BAYS

6. RIVER MOUTHS

7. DELTAS

8. LAGOONS

9. TIDAL MARSHES

10. SWAMPS

11. MANGROVE FORESTS

12. SANDY BEACHES

13. SEA GRASSES

14. CORAL REEFS

15. OYSTER REEFS

16. IMPORTANCE OF ESTUARIES They serve as homes for many species of wildlife Nursing grounds for many fish and shellfish Place where they breed and feed their young

17. IMPORTANCE OF ESTUARIES Migratory birds also use estuaries as stopovers before they move on to their next destination Salt marshes and mangroves in estuaries also help filter pollutants from the river

18. IMPORTANCE OF ESTUARIES Traders use oceans and inland rivers as passageways to transport goods Scientists are able to study sea level rise, water pollution, erosion, and the impact of human development in estuaries

19. IMPORTANCE OF ESTUARIES Communities living around estuaries also depend on them for food Perfect for recreational activities for families and other groups Create jobs for people

20. KINDS OF ESTUARIES

21. COASTAL PLAIN ESTUARIES Form when sea levels rise and fill an existing valley

22. BAR-BUILT ESTUARIES A lagoon or bay that is protected from the sea by a sandbar or barrier island. Often found in tropical countries with rivers that have high sediment loads

23. TECTONIC ESTUARIES Formed by the shifting together and breaking apart of the Earth’s crust because of earthquake

24. TECTONIC ESTUARIES Formed by the shifting together and breaking apart of the Earth’s crust because of earthquake

25. FJORD ESTUARIES Created by glaciers Glaciers are thick masses of snow that have accumulated through the years

26. ECOSYSTEMS IN ESTUARIES

27. ECOSYSTEMS IN ESTUARIES Mixing of fresh water and salt water Variation in salinity Tidal influence High productivity

28. PLANTS IN ESTUARIES

29. SEAGRASS Flowering plants that live underwater They serve as food for turtles and homes to prawn and fish They also trap sediment and slow down the movement of water

30. SEAGRASS

31. MANGROVES Shrubs with a well-developed and wide network of roots that have adapted to the brackish waters of estuaries They provide nursing environments for small fish Absorb carbon dioxide efficiently

32. MANGROVES The wood obtained from mangroves is used by people living nearby to make houses, boats, fish traps, firewood, and charcoal

33. MANGROVES

34. SEAWEEDS Macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae Classified into brown algae, green algae, and red algae Serve as food for the animal inhabitants of estuaries as well as humans

35. SEAWEEDS

36. phytoplankton One-celled plants eaten by microscopic animals (zooplankton) and small fish in estuaries

37. phytoplankton

38. ANIMALS IN ESTUARIES

39. SHORE AND SEA BIRDS Birds often found in estuaries are long-legged birds which are well-adapted to wading in water.

40. SHORE AND SEA BIRDS

41. FISH

42. INVERTEBRATES

43. MAMMALS AND REPTILES

44. THREATS TO ESTUARIES Land reclamation Pollution Overfishing Climate change

45. PROTECTING AND CONSERVING ESTUARIES Conserve water. Use the 5Rs of waste management. Do not litter. Promote and participate in clean-up activities of coastal areas. Avoid using hazardous products. Do not touch coral reefs.

46. PROTECTING AND CONSERVING ESTUARIES Plant vegetation to help stop erosion. Respect marine protected areas. Report activities that threaten estuaries. Learn more about estuaries, when possible , visit at least one.