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Coastal Ecosystems Include Estuaries Salt marshes Mangrove swamps Seagrasses Intertidal zones Beaches Kelp and seaweed Coral reefs Coastal Ecosystems Coastal ecosystems are generally highly productive because they: Benefit from nutrient rich runoff from land Are shallow and well lit allowing for a wide variety of salt tolerant plants to grow These plants provide a haven for juvenile open ocean dwelling organisms Allow for a wide variety of different species to coexist together Coastal ecosystems A major concern is eutrophication which is an over abundance of nutrients in the water usually form fertilizer runoff It stimulates excessive algae growth When the algae dies, degradation consumes available oxygen The depletion of oxygen kills fish and other sea life This creates an imbalance in the ecosystem which can sometimes take several years to recover Estuaries Estuaries Estuaries exist where the tides meet rivers They are not found where all rivers enter the sea, but are common where the tidal range is high High tide pushes far up a river flooding the surrounded area They tend to trap and accumulate runoff sediment so they are rich in nutrients and biological productivity They are sensitive to eutrophication because they trap fertilizers as well They are the kidneys of the biosphere because of their cleansing function Estuaries They have high primary productivity Organisms living there must tolerate a wide range of salinity due to the rising and falling tides which cause a flush of salt water then fresh water. This limits the number of species that can live there High primary productivity leads to decreased oxygen levels at times This allows anaerobic sulfur bacteria to thrive producing a rotten eggs smell They are excellent nurseries providing nutrients and shelter for over 75% of commercial fishing juvenile fish species Estuaries They contribute to the productivity of adjacent marine ecosystems in at least 2 ways: 1. Surviving juveniles migrate from the estuaries as they grow and mature Therefore contributing to productivity by increasing the number of individuals that survive the hazardous larval and juvenile stages 2. They provide a steady stream of nutrients to adjacent marine ecosystems while trapping sediment and other materials in runoff from rain and storms This will reduce eutrophication and other damage were the runoff to reach the open ocean Salt Marshes Salt Marshes Exist in estuaries and along the coast They grow were there’s flat, gently sloping , nutrient rich sediment washed by the tide Halophytes are plants that have adaptations that allow them to survive in salt water Some accumulate salt in their roots so water will flow in to the plant. They transport the salt to glands on leaves and stem where it gets excreted Some store salt in sacrificial leaves. When the leaves are loaded with salt they fall off and grow another Halophytes are not food plants for many organisms. They are tough and salty making them unsuitable for herbivores Mangrove Swamps Mangrove Swamps Found in tropical climates They have strong tangled roots that provide habitats for juvenile fish and invertebrates Because of their roots they hold the soil well, protecting the habitat and coast from erosion Without mangroves tropical storms would wash away many tropical islands and beaches They protect coral reefs and other ecosystems by trapping nutrients and fertilizers and preventing eutrophication in those ecosystems The one huge down side to them is they are swampy sulfide smelling mosquito havens Seagrasses Seagrasses Stabilize sediment and provide shelter and habitats for other organisms They are the only submergent plants, some living as deep as 100 feet Their root systems intertwine forming a mat below the sediment Most species release pollen into the current to reproduce They maintain an internally salinity the same as the surrounding water so they do not need to collect and excrete excess salt They are edible and provide food for fish, turtles,etc Intertidal zones Intertidal zones Intertidal zones Include areas above the water line or 10 meters below it Organisms living there face 4 huge problems 1. Drying out 2. Thermal stress 3. High salt levels 4. Pounding surf Organisms with habitats here have adaptations to retain moisture, obtain oxygen from the air or store enough to endure many hours out of water They must also be able to withstanding the pounding surf Intertidal zones Organisms found living in the intertidal zone are 1. Barnacles 2. Periwinkles Intertidal zones 3.Limpets 4.Chitons Beaches Beaches