IM A G IN E A D A Y W IT H O U T
W O R K S C IT E D
W AT ER!
C A N ' T ? V IS IT A N E S T U A R Y
L A N D FO RM S
Types of estuaries include: bays, lagoons,
harbours, sounds, f iords and swamps.
G EO G RA PH IC L O CAT IO N
Estuaries are f ound on the coasts where
f resh water such as rivers or bays have
access to the ocean.
C L IM AT E
The prevailing climate in an estuary is
known as a local steppe climate. In the
summer estuaries can reach up to 70°F, but
throughout the year they have an average
temperature of 40°F. The precipitation,
however, varies 46 mm between the driest
month and the wettest month. This abiotic
f actor is signif icant because precipitation
supplies f reshwater to estuaries, which is an
important source of dissolved oxygen and
nutrients.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. ?Estuary.?
f f f f Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia
f f f f Britannica, Inc., 15 Mar. 2018,
f f f f www.britannica.com/science/estuary.
EST UA RY
Day, John W. Estuarine Ecology. Wiley-Blackwell,
f f f f 2013.
?Estuary Education.? Biodiversity in an Estuary,
f f f f coast.noaa.gov/estuaries/curriculum/biodiversity-
f f f f in-an-estuary.html.
?Estuarine and Lagoon Biodiversity and Their
f f f f Natural Goods and Services.? Estuarine, Coastal
f f f f and Shelf Science, Academic Press, 3 June 2013,
f f f f www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027277
f f f f 1413002412.
US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic
f f f f and Atmospheric Administration. ?Estuaries,
f f f f NOS Education Of f ering.? NOAA's National
f f f f Ocean Service Education, 19 Dec.
f f f f 2005,oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_est
f f f f uaries/welcome.html.
US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic
f f f f and Atmospheric Administration. ?NOAA's
f f f f National Ocean Service Education: Estuaries.?
f f f f NOAA's National Ocean Service, 19 Dec. 2004,
f f f f oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/medi
f f f f a/supp_estuar09c_pathogens.html.
W H ERE T H E
RIV ER M EET S
IS A B E L L A D IB B IN I T H E SEA
AP Biology, EF Block Even
May 2, 2018
 FO O D W EB
In estuaries Energy is transf erred f rom
plants to animals through Food Chains.
Phytoplankton are f loating microscopic
plants; they are very important estuary
producers. Phytoplankton are eaten by
f loating animals, zooplankton - and by
bigger animals like snails, clams, and
barnacles.
If you visit an estuary you can enjoy various
types of f ish, crabs, and if ambitious, even
snails. Don't worry if you do not eat animal
products, because vegan options are also
available, such as f resh seaweed directly f rom
the estuary.
Estuaries have been called the "nurseries of
the sea" because the protected environment
and abundant f ood provides an ideal location
f or f ish and shellf ish to reproduce. Most f ish
species spend some part of their lif e cycle in
estuaries.
W IL D L IFE A N D B IO D IV ERSIT Y
FL O RA
There are diverse types of plants f ound in estuaries,
including: douglas asters, gumweeds, red algae,
saltgrass, sea lettuce and f athen saltbush.
Plants have a variety of adaptations that help them
survive. For instance, algae has holdf asts that attach to
the sea f loor and anchor them down much like roots
of a plant. Saltgrass also has f ew adaptations; salt
glands on the leaves extrude salt, which ultimately
allows the plants to utilize salty water.
H U M A N IM PA CT
Pollution is one of the greatest threats to estuaries.
This results in the immediate destruction and loss of
estuarine habitats. Pollutants including toxic
substances such as chemicals, heavy metals and
pathogens have the greatest impact on the health of
estuaries. Help prevent pollution and visit an estuary
today, bef ore pollution takes over this beautif ul part
of nature!
FA U N A
Estuaries are home to various animals. Common
animals include: f ish, crabs, lobsters, clams,
marine worms, raccoons, opossums, skunks and
many other reptiles. Because estuaries are
biologically productive, they provide ideal areas
f or migratory birds to rest and ref uel during
their long journeys.
Many structures in f ish provide adaptations f or
their aquatic lif estyle. For example, f ish have
gills f or ?breathing? oxygen in water and f ins f or
propelling and steering their bodies through
water. In addition, crabs have eight regular legs
and two specially adapted legs known as claws
which help them to f eed and to catch prey.
A common predator of estuaries is the Great Blue
Heron (pictured below). This bird is primarily known
f or eating small f ish and amphibians such as f rogs.
Another predator are the bull sharks that f eed of f of
the hardhead and gaf f topsail catf ish.