Marine Environments: Estuaries, Salt Marshes, Mangrove Swamps, and Coral Reefs

The Estuary  Freshwater rivers drain into the Ocean.  Where the freshwater and the salt water meet and mix is called an estuary.  The mixture of water that is a combination of salt and freshwater is called Brackish water.  Estuaries are very productive areas….many organisms lay their eggs there.  Water is calm because they are protected by Barrier Beaches.  Freshwater rivers drain into the Ocean.  Where the freshwater and the salt water meet and mix is called an estuary.  The mixture of water that is a combination of salt and freshwater is called Brackish water.  Estuaries are very productive areas….many organisms lay their eggs there.  Water is calm because they are protected by Barrier Beaches.

Types of Estuary Communities  Salt Marsh Community-  Marsh grasses  Controlled by tides  Have nutrient rich waters  Are considered the “nurseries” of the estuary.  Salt Marsh Community-  Marsh grasses  Controlled by tides  Have nutrient rich waters  Are considered the “nurseries” of the estuary.

The Salt Marsh

The Mud Flat Community  Has dark muddy sand.  No grasses.  Little or no aeration in the sand.  Considered the “graveyards” of the estuary.  Mud Flats are caused by decomposing bacteria turning the wastes In the sand into a dark mud.  Decomposers cause decaying organisms to produce H 2 S (foul smelling odor).  Has dark muddy sand.  No grasses.  Little or no aeration in the sand.  Considered the “graveyards” of the estuary.  Mud Flats are caused by decomposing bacteria turning the wastes In the sand into a dark mud.  Decomposers cause decaying organisms to produce H 2 S (foul smelling odor).

Mud Flats

The Mangrove Community  Found in warmer, tropical areas.  Inlets and bays are covered by mangrove trees.  Mangrove swamps protect the shore from erosion.  Mangrove swamps act like giant sponges and absorb the impact of storms and high waters.  Found in warmer, tropical areas.  Inlets and bays are covered by mangrove trees.  Mangrove swamps protect the shore from erosion.  Mangrove swamps act like giant sponges and absorb the impact of storms and high waters.

A Mangrove Swamp

The Coral Reef  The most spectacular of all the marine environments.  Has the most biodiversity of all the marine environments.  Found in tropical and sub-tropical zones.  Reefs are built from the sea floor by coral polyps.  Reefs will grow up to the surface, but will not grow out of the water.  Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest natural made structure (2000km), and contains over 1500 species of fish.  The most spectacular of all the marine environments.  Has the most biodiversity of all the marine environments.  Found in tropical and sub-tropical zones.  Reefs are built from the sea floor by coral polyps.  Reefs will grow up to the surface, but will not grow out of the water.  Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest natural made structure (2000km), and contains over 1500 species of fish.

 Each coral is unique in its shape and color.  Coral Reefs are extremely productive.  Coral Reefs are extremely fragile and pieces of coral break off easily.  Many reefs are now in danger of being destroyed because of over fishing, diving, pollution, and poor handling of educating the public on the importance of maintaining the vitality of coral reef populations.  Each coral is unique in its shape and color.  Coral Reefs are extremely productive.  Coral Reefs are extremely fragile and pieces of coral break off easily.  Many reefs are now in danger of being destroyed because of over fishing, diving, pollution, and poor handling of educating the public on the importance of maintaining the vitality of coral reef populations.

Coral Reefs

Summary  An Estuary is where freshwater and saltwater meet and mix.  Estuaries are very diverse and productive areas.  Living organisms have special adaptations to help them live in the various marine environments.  An Estuary is where freshwater and saltwater meet and mix.  Estuaries are very diverse and productive areas.  Living organisms have special adaptations to help them live in the various marine environments.

HW Read in the Text on Marine Environments pages Answer questions on page 82, #1-3. Read in the Text on Marine Environments pages Answer questions on page 82, #1-3.

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