By Joe Brandt and Robby Jaydos Estuary By Joe Brandt and Robby Jaydos

Facts An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries are found all over the world, all with different climates depending on the area. Hundreds of thousands people live along the shores of estuaries, making them important for humans as well as animals.

Facts Cont. Birds typically use estuaries as a resting spot during their migration south for the winter. Many different species of organisms can be found in estuaries.

Geography In the world In the United States

Geography Cont.

Geography Cont. Estuaries can be found throughout the world as seen on the maps. There is no exact climate or weather cycle for an estuary. The climate depends on the location of the estuary and will be the same as the area around it.

Weather The weather is seasonal due to the area the estuary is located Rainfall affects flow of the river and cause more sediments from the river to flow into the estuary Hurricanes and other natural occurrences redistribute particles, possibly eroding shorelines. Rain causes more pollution runoff from the river into the estuary itself. Climate change causes stress for the wildlife which can include rising temperature or rising water.

Survey of Organisms The cherry salmon is critically endangered The average length is 20 inches and feeds on crustaceans

Survey of organisms cont… The American Wigeon lives in freshwater wetlands They eat aquatic plants with some insects and mollusks

Cont… The Great Blue Heron is about 3-4 feet tall It has a wingspan of about 6 feet. They eat fish, amphibians, reptiles, and other birds

Adaptations The Bald Eagle has adapted rough feet to hold slippery fish. Essential to the Eagle to attain nutrients and maintain a healthy diet. Without this essential adaptation, the Bald Eagle could potentially be extinct.

Adaptations Cont. The Bay Pipefish adapts to the environment it is living in. The color of the Bay Pipefish varies depending on the eelgrass in the estuary, which varies throughout the world.

Human Impact New York City is located at the mouth of the Hudson River which is an estuary. Under threat from human pollution and over-fishing. Waste can be dumped far upstream and discharged into estuaries (problems don’t only occur at the estuary itself. Materials like plastic and pesticides that don’t disintegrate rapidly travel downstream and flow into the tissues of wildlife in the water, a process called bioaccumulation.

Human Impact Cont. Chesapeake Bay once had a thriving population of oysters; over-fishing nearly wiped out the population. Oysters filter the water every three to four days, and without filtration the water is more polluted each year.