Lecture 14 - ESTUARIES

Last Ice Age

Classification of Estuaries - Geological 1.Coastal Plain Estuary (= Drowned River Estuary)

Classification of Estuaries - Geological 1.Coastal Plain Estuary 2.Bar Built Estuary

Bar-built estuary -sediment deposited by longshore currents estuary Longshore current

Bar-built estuary Sandy Hook, New Jersey

Bar-built estuary Sandy Hook, New Jersey

Classification of Estuaries - Geological 1.Coastal Plain Estuary 2.Bar Built Estuary 3.Fjord

Classification of Estuaries - Geological 1.Coastal Plain Estuary 2.Bar Built Estuary 3.Fjord 4.Tectonic San Andreas Fault Hayward Fault Calaveras Fault

Tectonic Estuary Earthquake causes blocks to shift

Tectonic Estuary Earthquake causes blocks to shift

Tectonic Estuary

Circulation Patterns of Estuaries Salt Wedge Partially Mixed Mixed

Estuary flow animations

Reverse Estuary Rare freshwater inflow Restricted tidal mixing Internal wind-driven mixing High SalinityLower salinity Evaporation

Factors influencing estuary circulation River discharge LowHigh MaximumMinimum StrongWeak Strong Tidal mixing Tidal currents Water stratification Well-mixed estuaryPartially mixed estuary Salt wedge estuary

San Francisco Bay - a salt wedge estuary

Columbia R. - Oregon - a well mixed estuary

Chesapeake Bay - partially mixed

Colorado River mouth - a reverse estuary

Reverse Estuary Laguna Madre - Texas

Physical Features of Estuaries Salinity - Coriolis forces

Physical Features of Estuaries Salinity - Bottom vs Water column Mud Bottom water Salinity Time

Physical Features of Estuaries Substrate - Flocculation

Physical Features of Estuaries Substrate - Movement by Current

Physical Features of Estuaries Other features Temperature Waves and Currents Turbidity Oxygen

Turbidity – Rappahannock River 75 mg/l >5 mg/l

Diversity in Estuaries Euryhaline Stenohaline 1.Euryhaline -tolerate salinites between 15 and 35 ppt 2.Stenohaline -tolerate salinities above 25 ppt

Diversity in Estuaries Brackish water Animals -tolerate salinites between 5 and 18 ppt Nereis Callinectes Hydrobia

Diversity in Estuaries Transitional Animals -pass through estuary American eel Atlantic salmon

Diversity in Estuaries - Vegetation Chaetomorpha Cladophora Enteromorpha Ulva

Adaptations to Estuaries Coping with salinity

Adaptations to Estuaries Coping with salinity Internal salinity Environmental salinity

Adaptations to Estuaries Coping with salinity Internal salinity Environmental salinity Perfect osmoconformer

Adaptations to Estuaries Coping with salinity Internal salinity Environmental salinity Perfect osmoconformer Perfect osmoregulator

Adaptations to Estuaries Coping with salinity Internal salinity Environmental salinity

Adaptations to Estuaries Coping with salinity Internal salinity Environmental salinity

Adaptations to Estuaries Coping with salinity Internal salinity Environmental salinity

Ecological Relationships Primary Productivity Algal mats Benthic diatoms

Ecological Relationships Primary Productivity Classification scheme for estuaries - based on primary productivity European American

Estuarine Food web From river and ocean Detritus Detritus feeders Birds Lost Salt marsh Light Phytoplankton Zooplankton Fish Lost Algae Grazers Invertebrate Predators Death Microbial Decomposers Scavengers Filter Feeders

Estuarine Food web From river and ocean Detritus Detritus feeders Birds Lost Salt marsh Light Phytoplankton Zooplankton Fish Lost Algae Grazers Invertebrate Predators Death Microbial Decomposers Scavengers Filter Feeders

Allochthonous sources of Carbon Salt Marsh- Importer or Exporter? Factors Influencing the relationship of the salt marsh and estuary 1. Latitude FloridaTexasLouisianaGeorgiaNorth Carolina Chesapeake Bay New England Dry wt – g/m 2 /yr Turner, 1976

Allochthonous sources of Carbon Salt Marsh- Importer or Exporter? Factors Influencing the relationship of the salt marsh and estuary 2. Nitrogen N-fertilized Control M J J A S Dry wt – g/m 2 /yr Vince et al, 1981

Allochthonous sources of Carbon Salt Marsh- Importer or Exporter? Factors Influencing the relationship of the salt marsh and estuary 2. Nitrogen Sippiwisset Marsh - 10 year nitrogen enrichment study increased above and below ground production increased N content in plants consumer populations

Allochthonous sources of Carbon Salt Marsh- Importer or Exporter? Factors Influencing the relationship of the salt marsh and estuary Others geomorphology oceanographic conditions marsh age primary productivity