Compare and Contrast the Various Types of Estuaries, Including Their Origin, Size, Shape, and General Location on Earth

5/8/2018

Compare and contrast the various types of estuaries, including their origin, size, shape, and general location on earth. Distinguish and describe the different types of habitats found in a typical estuary. Prepared by Diana Wheat-LBCC Evaluate the different types of osmotic capabilities of estuarine species. Discuss threats to estuaries. Summarize uses by humans.

Where the Fresh water (rivers & streams) Estuaries are classified by: meets the Ocean. > Mode of formation Also known as bays if ship traffic occurs there. Salinity and currents fluctuates with the tides. e.g. glaciers, deposition, sea level rise Often an area rich in nutrients. Ecotone of possibly high biodiversity. > Patterns of water circulation Also called: Fjords Sound Tide/mud flats Inlets Salt Marshes

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I. Coastal plain II. Bar-built Broad and shallow embayments Formed by a barrier island trapping water near the Continuously modified coast that enters from a river or stream by wave erosion Courtesy of NASA/Johnson Space Center Space NASA/Johnson of Courtesy Courtesy of NASA/Johnson Space Center Space NASA/Johnson of Courtesy

IV. Delta III. Coastal lagoon Estuary with a broad, poorly defined fan-shaped mouth Large embayment with little freshwater input

The Mississippi River Delta, showing the sediment plumes from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, 2001.

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V. Tectonic VI. Fjord Estuary that is deeply entrenched into a landform— Created when the underlying land sank because of carved out by a glacier crustal movements of the Earth e.g. San Francisco Seen in: Bay Norway Alaska Canada Chile Iceland New Zealand Courtesy of NASA/Johnson Space Center Space NASA/Johnson of Courtesy

Salt marshes A true plant – not a seaweed. Contributes to GPP. Very wet grasslands Habitat for many fish/invertz. Include many halophytes Reduce erosion from tides/storms Food for many animals including ▪ Pickleweed, marshgrass, cordgrass sea turtles, & marsh herbivores.

An area the size of a football field is lost every day on a world wide average.

These are areas of refuge and protection – including to human interests .

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Mudflats Made of rich, thick mud exposed to air at low tide Include many diatoms, seaweeds, and seagrasses

Courtesy of James Sumich

Oyster plots on the mudflat in Netarts Bay. OSU research Photo credit: Tiffany Woods, Oregon Sea Grant

Channels Estuaries have frequent salinity changes. Always filled with Animals and plants living in estuaries must have water special adaptations. Include many Osmoconformers - body fluids fluctuate with planktonic, nektonic, changing salinity e.g. soft bodied epifauna. and benthic organisms (c) ollirg/Shutterstock Osmoregulators – animals that regulate to some ▪ Crabs, fish, oysters, degree their body fluid composition e.g. crabs zooplankton, phytoplankton

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" There has long been a belief that the sea, at least, was inviolate, beyond man's ability to change and to despoil. But this belief, unfortunately, has proved to be naive." Rachel Carson I.Stenohaline – Tolerance to limited salinity ranges - most FW fish, can’t tolerate higher salinity and Haddock, can’t tolerate lower salinity. “steno” means “narrow.”

II. Euryhaline – Tolerance to a wide range of salinity. e.g. sharks often rely on shallow inshore areas for nurseries – including wetlands. Migratory species like Salmon, Herring

Withdrawing water at unsustainable rates - Surface and groundwater are being depleted - One-third of the world’s people are affected by shortages. Most water (FW) is used in agriculture People also engineer waterways - Dams, levees, diversion canals - For supplies, transportation, and flood control Dredging: Clearing waterways for commerce. Pollution: including plastics, toxins, antibiotics, thermal, organic matter e.g. sewage, oil spills, dioxins Coastal development – loss of mangroves, eel grass beds, salt marshes etc. Overfishing

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Shellfish & crab harvesting NOAA education portal Fishing – especially dredging Mariculture – oysters/shrimp https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutori Boating sports e.g. kayaking, paddleboarding al_estuaries/welcome.html Cruises for tourists Commerce – shipping/bays Ocean Blue Project Bird watching https://www.oceanblueproject.org/ Vacation spots e.g. tropical lagoons