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Biome: Estuary

Biome: Estuary. Introduction - Brett Organisms in Estuaries - Tyrome Soil - Tyrome Climate - Casey Bio-diversity - Casey The “Big Picture” - Christy. Introduction. Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife, 2005. What is an Estuary?. Coastal area where freshwater from rivers and streams

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Biome: Estuary

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  1. Biome: Estuary • Introduction - Brett • Organisms in Estuaries -Tyrome • Soil - Tyrome • Climate - Casey • Bio-diversity - Casey • The “Big Picture” - Christy

  2. Introduction Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife, 2005.

  3. What is an Estuary? Coastal area where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the ocean1 Partially enclosed by territorial barriers, such as sandpits and barrier islands Other names associated with estuaries: lagoon, bay, harbor, sound, bayou, and inlet 1 New Hampshire Public Television, 2006.

  4. Location & Distribution of Estuaries scattered at many different latitudes concentrations on East coast of U.S. as well as Western Europe Source: Stephen Threlkeld, Estuarine Research Federation, 2002 EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) sites 102 estuaries in U.S. Source: www.epa.gov, 2005

  5. Geologic Classification of Estuaries Coastal Plain: at the end of last ice age, sea level rose & filled coastal river valleys Ex: Chesapeake Bay in Maryland Tectonic: activity in earth’s crust causes a fault or crack to form, land subsides, and the sea fills it in Ex: San Francisco Bay in California Bar-Built: sandbars build up and partly close off water behind them from the ocean Ex: East Matagorda Bay in Texas Fjord: moving glaciers cut into a mountain valley and the sea fills it in Ex: regions of Alaska * Source of Graphics: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine Programs

  6. Organisms Serve as breeding grounds for numerous marine mammals. High diversity of marine species www.answers.com http://bryan.parno.net/

  7. High seasonal avian diversity • Haven for migrating birds. Surf Scoter California Clapper Rail www.ibrrc.org http://biology.fullerton.edu

  8. Keystone • Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse • Serve as key pray species • Seed dispersal agent • One of the few mammals able to drink salt water. http://www.spd.usace.army.mil/

  9. Plant diversity is low due to high salt levels. Glasswort Cordgrass en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org www.anticlockwise.com

  10. Invasive Species • Are on the rise in San Francisco • Displace native species • Harm restoration efforts Asian mitten crab Purple Loosestrife The nature conservancy

  11. Soil • Alluvium- sediments from rivers and streams • Has high salinity • Nutrient rich

  12. Climate PRECIPITATION -Precipitation: rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, mist TEMPERATURE -it is a critical habitat feature for all aquatic species because it regulates chemical and metabolic processes.

  13. Biodiversity What type of animals live in an estuary? Mangrove forests Primary production Bacterial production Zooplankton abundance

  14. Relative Productivity Estuaries are among the most productive places of all… Food chain Studies done

  15. This graph shows the environmental gradient for the species allotted in the estuary biome.

  16. Inorganic Nutrients Inorganic nutrients, required for plant and bacterial production, are supplied mainly by recycling from the food web, but also by inputs from the rivers and from the coastal ocean.

  17. Estuaries in the “Big Picture”

  18. Why Estuaries are Important Nursery: a great number of species of fish lay their eggs in estuaries because the abundant nutrients provides a “safe haven” for the babies Flood Control: estuaries are a natural buffer between organisms living upland (as well as valuable real estate) and violent storms Habitat: decaying animals and plants give the soil in estuaries rich nutrients which attracts an array of plant species, which in turn attracts an array of animal species GDP: estuaries contribute 12% to the global GDP (gross domestic product) and is especially important in developing countries (see chart below) Source: Global Programme of Action, www.gpa.unep.org

  19. Current Threats to Estuaries Source: Waikato Regional Council, 1999 domestic sewage in large amounts can deplete the oxygen human development may not appear harmful in little pieces, but does have cumulative detrimental effects clearing the land interferes with the amount and rate of sedimentation which can alter nutrient levels and physical habitat

  20. What You Can Do to Help Educate yourself about the current problems estuaries face and what solutions exist Joina program to actively spread the word and conserve estuaries Disposeof your garbage correctly instead of dumping pollutants in the sewage system or littering anywhere you go Talkto government officials about laws and projects to protect estuaries. Hey, you never know.

  21. Bibliography • http://www.nrc.govt.nz/environmental.education/school.information.packs/estuaries.shtml • http://www.estuaries.gov/about.html • http://calwater.ca.gov/Programs/Science/cmarp/a7a5.html • http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/PIE/research.htm • biology.fullerton.edu • www.clr.pdx.edu • The nature conservancy • en.wikipedia.org • en.wikipedia.org • www.anticlockwise.com • http://www.spd.usace.army.mil/ • www.ibrrc.org • http://biology.fullerton.edu • www.answers.com • http://bryan.parno.net/ • United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Marine Programs • www.epa.gov • Stephen Threlkeld, Estuarine Research Federation • U.S. Fish & Wildlife • New Hampshire Public Television

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