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Estuaries
Payton Collins
December 1st, 2011
The Basics and Terminology
 An estuary is the area in which
rivers meet the sea.
 One of the most productive
ecosystems in the world.
 Estuaries are partially enclosed.
 Seawater mixes with freshwater,
nutrients, and pollution from
rivers, and streams and land
runoff.
 Must be adaptable to daily and
seasonal changes in tidal and
river flows, and land runoff of
eroded soil sediment and other
pollutants.
 Salinity alone can increase or
decrease 20% in a season.
More on Marshes
 Coastal wetlands are land areas covered with water all
or part of the year.
 Found around estuaries
 Examples include river mouths, inlets, bays, sounds
(narrow stretches of water forming an inlet or
connecting two wider areas of water such as two seas
or a sea and a lake), salt marshes (in temperate zones),
and mangrove forests (the tropical zone equivalent of
salt marshes).
Estuaries in the United States
U.S. Estuaries


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88,000+ miles of coastal wetlands
100+ estuaries
Louisiana- home to 40% nation’s coastal wetlands
Chesapeake Bay – nation’s largest estuary
 This estuary alone supports more than 3,600 species of
plants, fish and animals.
Biodiversity
 Typical animals in estuaries~
 Shellfish (oysters, crabs, lobsters)
 Shore and sea birds
 Raccoons, skunks, opossums (attracted by plants and
animals)
 Typical plants in estuaries~
 Salt meadows
 Mangroves
 Cordgrass
Benefits from Estuaries
 Estuaries provide ecological and economic services~
 Filter toxic pollutants, excess plant nutrients, sediments,
and other pollutants.
 Reduce storm damage; absorb waves and store excess
water produced by storms and tsunamis.
 Provide food, habitats, and nursery sites for a variety of
aquatic species.
Environmental Damage to Estuaries
 Global Climate Change
 Algal bloom, invasive species, estuary climate/water
temperature changes
 Pollution from upland areas
 Dams block nutrient flow
 Extreme weather conditions
 Floods, hurricanes, storms
How Can We Help?
 Currently developed/developing solutions~
 Enhancing the natural defenses provided by wetlands,
barrier islands and reefs.
 Supporting the natural replenishment of sediments
from rivers and beaches.
 Protecting inland buffers to enable habitats to migrate.
Citations
 Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
(2010). Salt Marshes. Retrieved from
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/saltmarshes.ht
m
 Miller, Jr. G. T. (2007). Living in the Environment: Principles,
Connections, and Solutions (15th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Thomson Higher Education.
 Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
(SCCWRP). (2011). Project Group: Coastal Wetlands and
Estuaries. Retrieved from http://www.nwf.org/GlobalWarming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Estuaries-andCoastal-Wetlands.aspx
Citations (2)
 Ayub, Zarrien (2010). Effect of Temperature and Rainfall as
a Component of Climate Change on Fish and Shrimp Catch
in Pakistan. The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental
Studies, vol. 9, no. 1. Retrieved from http://www.journaltes.dk/vol_9_no_1__page_15/no%204%20%20Zarrinem%20A
yub%20(high).pdf
 U.S. Department of the Interior. (2007). The Role of Climate
in Estuarine Variability. Retrieved from
http://sfbay.wr.usgs.gov/hydroclimate/climate_role/part2.h
tml
 C., Tommy, and B., Kyle (n.d.). Estuary Home. Retrieved
from
http://biomesfourth09.wikispaces.com/Estuary+Home
Citations (3)
 National Wildlife Federation (n.d.). Global Warming
Impacts on Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands. Retrieved from
http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlifeand-Habitat/Estuaries-and-Coastal-Wetlands.aspx
 Estuaries. (n.d.). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand (online).
Retrieved from http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/estuaries/3
 New Hampshire Public Television. (2011). Estuaries.
Retreived from
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep6a.htm