Type of Water partially enclosed body of water along the coast where freshwater from rivers and streams meets and mixes with salt water from the ocean Can be described as “brackish” – somewhat salty

Temperature since estuaries exist all around the world, the water temperature or nearby land’s temperature can differ depends on each estuaries and their location click to enlarge the picture

Temperature (continued) However, water temperature in estuaries can be affected by seasons Water temperature is important because it tells how much oxygen can be dissolved into the water of the estuary Higher water temperature = less oxygen Lower water temperature = more oxygen

Temperature (continued) Example: fresh water at 0°C can contain up to 14.6 mg of oxygen per liter of water, but at 20°C, it can only hold 9.2 mg of oxygen per liter Since water temperature can tell us how much dissolved oxygen the water can contain, we can also know which kind of organism are able to live in the estuary (more on this later)

Physical Features There are 4 types of estuaries: COASTAL PLAIN ESTUARIES TECTONIC ESTUARIES BAR-BUILT ESTUARIES FJORD ESTUARIES

Geographical Locations Some major estuaries in the world, not all estuaries are shown.

Types of Plants Beware that estuarine plants have to endure these conditions 1. varying salinity levels 2. strong currents and storm waves 3. varying exposure to sunlight and wind 4. low oxygen levels in muddy soils. These are some common estuarine plants Douglas Aster, Eelgrass, Fathen Saltbrush, Gumweed, Pickleweed, Red Algae, Saltgrass, Sea Lettuce, Seaside Arrowgrass, Tufted Hairgrass

Types of Animals These are just some example of animals that are common in estuaries around the world Birds: American Coot, American Wigeon, Black- bellied Plover, Black Brant, Bald Eagle, Canada Goose, Caspian Tern, Common Goldeneye, Dunlin, Great- blue Heron, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Peregrine Falcon, Red-breasted Merganser, Western Gull, and, Western Sandpiper Mammals: Harbor Seal, River Otter

Types of Animals (continued) Sea Creatures: Bent-nosed Clam, Blood Star, Brooding Sea Anemone, Bubble Shell, Dungeness Crab, Hermit Crab, Hooded Nudibranch, Lugworm, Mud Shrimp, Native Littleneck Clam, Opalescent Nudibranch, Orange Striped Jellyfish, Purple Shore Crab, Scallop, Skeleton Shrimp, Stalked Jellyfish, Sunflower Star Fishes: Bay Pipefish, Chinook Salmon, Chum Salmon, Cutthroat Trout, Pacific Sculpin, Shiner Perch, Starry Flounder Insects: Damsel Fly, Green Darner

Types of Animals (continued) So that was a lot of animals, lets sort this out in an organized way: a food web

Types of Animals (continued)

Quaternary consumers Tertiary consumers Secondary consumers Primary consumers Primary producers

Types of Animals (continued) Estuaries can host this many types of organisms because it have many habitat types including shallow open waters, freshwater and salt marshes, swamps, sandy beaches, mud and sand flats, rocky shores, oyster reefs, mangrove forests, river deltas, tidal pools, and seagrasses. So many diverse types of organisms can find an estuaries suitable to live in. Example: calm waters provide a safe area for small fish, shellfish, migrating birds and shore animals

Question Time

1. Which statement below is true? 1. Higher water temperature = more oxygenHigher water temperature = more oxygen 2. Higher water temperature = less oxygenHigher water temperature = less oxygen 3. Water temperature does not affect oxygen capacity of the body of waterWater temperature does not affect oxygen capacity of the body of water

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2. Coastal Plain Estuaries are created when sea levels rise and fill in an existing river valley 1. True True 2. False False

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3. Tectonic estuaries are created when the land are carved into deep, steep valleys by glaciers and ocean water rushes in. 1. True True 2. False False

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4. Seagrasses are land plants adapted to living underwater on sandy soils. 1. True True 2. False False

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5. Mangroves do gas exchange through their leafs. 1. True True 2. False False

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THE END!

COASTAL PLAIN ESTUARIES created when sea levels rise and fill in an existing river valley Chesapeake Bay Glaciers craved the landscape up and the Alantic Ocean rushed in to form this coastal plain estuaries Go back

TECTONIC ESTUARIES created by shifting together and rifting apart the Earth's crust Go back In this case of San Francisco Bay the land pulled apart and the Pacific Ocean rushed in

BAR-BUILT ESTUARIES protected from the ocean by a sandbar or barrier island Go back The Outer Banks, where the estuaries are protected by sandbars and barrier islands Sandbars

FJORD ESTUARIES deep, steep valleys cut by glaciers Go back Puget Sound is a series of fjord estuaries located in the state of Washington. As you can see in the 3d topographic model image of the region, there is deep and steep valleys where it is occupied by water, forming fjord estuaries.