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Estuary Presentation

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Matthew_Ullman

The document summarizes key aspects of estuaries, including their global distribution, types, biodiversity, and human impacts. Estuaries are found where rivers meet oceans, with notable examples including Chesapeake Bay and the Amazon River. They contain salt marshes or mangroves and experience fluctuating salinity levels from tides, seasons, and rainfall. Estuaries support abundant life and are heavily populated areas, but have been degraded by industrialization through dumping, development, and destruction of habitats.

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The Estuary By Matthew Ullman S
Global Distribution
Specific Biome Location and Requirements S According to the definition of an estuary, this habitat must be at the tidal mouth where the river system and the oceanic system meet. Therefore, many coastlines have some sort of estuary S Some of the most notable estuaries include the Chesapeake Bay, Long Island Sound, Amazon River, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and Lake Portchartrain S Water levels rise and fall with the tides, but salinity generally fluctuates with tidal cycles, the time of the year, and precipitation S Salinity also gradually changes as one moves from the salty ocean water to the fresh river water
Fundamental Types of the Estuary S Salt Marshes S These type of estuaries are usually found in temperate estuaries S Most of the time, the ecosystems are dominated by salt-tolerant grasses S Provides important breeding grounds and nurseries for fish and shellfish S Prominent around the world, especially in the United States and Europe S Mangrove Forests S The tropical equivalent of the salt marsh S Cover 70% of tropical coastline S Plenty of biodiversity and biomass S Especially prominent in Asia
Biodiversity in an Estuary S Estuaries are amongst the most heavily populated areas in the world, with about sixty percent of life occupying these tidal mouths S There are several reasons for the fertility of the estuary ecosystem S Nutrients from the rivers almost always end up at the estuary on its way to the ocean S Tidal action makes circulation of nutrients and waste very effective S Light naturally enters the shallow water in great degrees S Plants form a detritus food web because of the extensive photosynthetic carpet
Notable Human Impacts on the Estuary S Estuaries have been gravely affected by industrialization and urbanization S These ecosystems have been targeted for garbage dumps and as places to artificially create residential land. S These acts inherently destroy the estuarine environment S Many of the ecosystem’s services, like biological habitats, sediment and pollution trapping, groundwater supply, and storm buffering, have invariably been disrupted S According to the EPA, estuaries in the US are in fair to poor condition S Mangrove forests especially are targeted for coastal development, unsustainable logging and aquaculture
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Estuary Presentation

  • 1. The Estuary By Matthew Ullman S
  • 3. Specific Biome Location and Requirements S According to the definition of an estuary, this habitat must be at the tidal mouth where the river system and the oceanic system meet. Therefore, many coastlines have some sort of estuary S Some of the most notable estuaries include the Chesapeake Bay, Long Island Sound, Amazon River, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and Lake Portchartrain S Water levels rise and fall with the tides, but salinity generally fluctuates with tidal cycles, the time of the year, and precipitation S Salinity also gradually changes as one moves from the salty ocean water to the fresh river water
  • 4. Fundamental Types of the Estuary S Salt Marshes S These type of estuaries are usually found in temperate estuaries S Most of the time, the ecosystems are dominated by salt-tolerant grasses S Provides important breeding grounds and nurseries for fish and shellfish S Prominent around the world, especially in the United States and Europe S Mangrove Forests S The tropical equivalent of the salt marsh S Cover 70% of tropical coastline S Plenty of biodiversity and biomass S Especially prominent in Asia
  • 5. Biodiversity in an Estuary S Estuaries are amongst the most heavily populated areas in the world, with about sixty percent of life occupying these tidal mouths S There are several reasons for the fertility of the estuary ecosystem S Nutrients from the rivers almost always end up at the estuary on its way to the ocean S Tidal action makes circulation of nutrients and waste very effective S Light naturally enters the shallow water in great degrees S Plants form a detritus food web because of the extensive photosynthetic carpet
  • 6. Notable Human Impacts on the Estuary S Estuaries have been gravely affected by industrialization and urbanization S These ecosystems have been targeted for garbage dumps and as places to artificially create residential land. S These acts inherently destroy the estuarine environment S Many of the ecosystem’s services, like biological habitats, sediment and pollution trapping, groundwater supply, and storm buffering, have invariably been disrupted S According to the EPA, estuaries in the US are in fair to poor condition S Mangrove forests especially are targeted for coastal development, unsustainable logging and aquaculture