Estuaries Synthesis Question -- how can plankton control if they move up- river or downriver in an estuary?
What is an estuary?
How does the water move within them?
Why?
How much ocean water enters estuary? More or less than the river water?
Why are estuaries important? Where land meets the sea –Pollution –Nutrients
Where people enjoy the sea.
Where people pollute the sea.
Biologically very productive –Where are there nutrients? –Where is there sun? –Estuaries have it all
Great fisheries (are or were)
Brooding place for deep water fish
How do baby fish and other larvae get into and out of estuary?
Issues -- too many nutrients
So? Anoxia
Pfiesteria & Nutrients
Red Tide
Over fishing. Does this make nutrient loading worse? Likely, at least for over- harvesting of oysters.