Estuaries You are responsible for recording everything typed in GREEN on your notes sheet.

What is an estuary? An estuary is a partly enclosed body of water where fresh water coming down from rivers meets and mixes with salt water from the sea The water in estuaries does contain some salt, but not as much as the ocean. We call this water “Brackish Water”

Label and Color River Water (Fresh Water) Ocean Water (Salt Water) Flow of Fresh Water River Water (Fresh Water) Ocean Water (Salt Water) Estuary Water (Brackish Water) Flow of Salt Water Label the sections of the diagram as shown Choose a color and color in the Ocean Water section of the diagram Use the same color, but only LIGHTLY SHADE in the Estuary Water Section of the diagram to symbolize the mix of River Water and Ocean Water

What’s so special about Estuaries? They contain a mix of nutrients and sediments Some is carried from the land by rivers Some is carried from the oceans by tides They are constantly being mixed by water Estuaries are typically very shallow This allows sunlight to reach all the way to the bottom! In NC, most estuaries are less than 30 feet deep

Estuaries do not last forever These conditions provide a great basis for biological diversity in species (lots of different living things) Lots of sunlight promotes plant growth Lots of nutrients and sediments support many plants and animals Estuaries do not last forever They are temporary features because their basins are eventually destroyed by the inflow of sediments from the rivers and sand from the oceans Eventually estuaries become dry land

Estuary Facts Estuaries have the most productive ecosystems on the planet! They are home to tons of wildlife including fish, birds, reptiles, mammals and many, many plants Estuaries can support many types of fish due to having both salt and fresh water Many fish lay their eggs in estuaries- the waters are calm and the abundance of plant life provides a safe environment for baby fish Estuaries are sometimes called the “nurseries of the sea”

Estuaries in North Carolina There are numerous estuaries in NC The biggest in Pamlico Sound Water drains into this system from eastern NC and southeastern VA, from the Chowan, Roanoke, Pasquotank, Pamlico and NEUSE RIVERS Estuaries help control erosion and reduce flooding on the mainland Sand bars buffer the impact of waves Swamps and marshes take the initial impact of winds and release excess water into groundwater and river supplies

Estuary Facts Estuaries are a type of environmental filter. Plants and animals found here filter out pollutants in the water. Oysters filter impurities out of water as they eat, collecting the contaminants in their bodies. They can filter up to 25 gallons of water each day! Bacteria eat organic matter and release toxic gases to the atmosphere, preventing them from being stored up in the estuary Accumulated toxins in estuaries cause many environmental and health problems Chemical pollution and sedimentation are great threats to the well-being of estuaries and oceans

Draw and label it in your estuary diagram Estuary Fish Pick any fish Draw and label it in your estuary diagram Mullet Rockfish Flounder Kahawai Trevally Sole Red Cod Parore Gurnard

Estuary Birds Many birds come to the estuaries to eat What do you notice about their beaks? How might this help living in an estuary? Egret Willet Heron

Estuary Animals Mud Shrimp Cockles River Otter Feed on the waste material found in the mudflats of estuaries Cockles Have strong shells to protect them from wave action, drying out, and beaks of predators River Otter Carnivorous and feed off a lot of the fish and crustaceans living in estuaries Few animals can live their entire lives in estuaries. Most move into estuaries at certain times of the year or during certain parts of their life cycle. Turtle One of the few species that spends its entire life in the estuary

Estuary Plants Draw and label one of these plants on your estuary diagram! Mangrove Trees Adapted to live in very muddy environments Home to many insects, birds and fish Have aerial roots that extend upward to compensate for lack of oxygen in mud Play an important role in trapping sediments and protecting shore lines Sea Grass Lives in and under water Most plants cannot tolerate any salt but Sea Grass can live in water with a variety of salinity levels Have extensive root systems to help anchor the grass and retrieve nutrients

Estuary Video Clip Follow the link below to see a 12 minute documentary about Mangrove Forest ecosystems and some of the animals that live there: Estuary Ecosystem