1. by Caitlin Mahoney & Jessica Andrich
Estuaries by
Caitlin Mahoney & Jessica Andrich

2. What are they?
Body of water where freshwater flows into the sea and mixes with seawater
Brackish water
Examples: bays, lagoons, and harbors
22 of the 32 largest cities in the world are in estuaries (such as New York City)

3. Estuaries throughout the World
Can be found all over the world, anywhere that salt and fresh water meet
Usually between land and sea
Coastal
Most productive ecosystem
"nursery of the sea": breeding grounds
Examples:
Northwest Florida to Texas coasts have shallow estuaries with salt marshes
San Francisco Bay is an estuary

4. Producers Macrophytes: shrubs, grasses, reeds
Phytoplankton: blue and green algae
Benthic organisms: diatoms, bacteria
Example of major producers:
Marsh grass (Spartina)
Salt grass
Cordgrass
Mangroves

5. Consumers Primary: Secondary: Tertiary: zooplankton,
"filter feeders“: mussels, oysters, etc.
Secondary:
Invertebrates: horseshoe crabs
Birds: blue heron, brown pelican
Fish: stickleback fish, snook, grouper, trout
Tertiary:
Manatees, Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin

6. Food Chain Marsh plant dies and decays
protozoa coats the marsh plant (detritus) and decompose it
amphipod (invertebrate) eats protozoa
stickleback fish eats amphipod
great blue heron eats stickleback fish

7. Natural Resources Source of food
Reeds and plants act as filters to filter the brackish water and clean it
recreation: boating, fishing, diving, hunting, etc.
scientific studies: biology, geology, chemistry
high level of nutrients due to the mixture of freshwater and seawater
Estuaries are the habitat for 75% of America's commercial fish catch, 80-90% of recreational fish catch

8. Environmental Concerns
Coastal Development
Invasive Species
Polluted Runoff
Over Fishing
Dredging and Filling
Dams
Global Climate Change

9. Endangered Species Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Also called Rainbow Trout and Redband Trout
Greatest DIVERSITY of life history patterns of ANY Pacific salmonid species

10. Endangered Species Diet: Lifespan: 11 years (max)
Varying degrees of Anadromy
Differences in reproductive biology & High plasticity of life style types between generations. 
Steelhead trout tend to develop a much more pointed head than Rainbow trout, and are also much larger and more silvery
Diet: 
Young – zooplankton
Adults - insects, mollusks, crustaceans, fish eggs, minnows, and other small fish (including other trout)
Lifespan: 11 years (max)
Size: 45 inches (max)
Weight: 55 lb (max)
Where???
Washington, Oregon, and California
Threats:
logging, genetic introgression with hatchery fish, agriculture and development, excessive fishing, dams, and other manmade impediments

11. Endangered Species Pickleweed (Salicornia virginica)
Pickleweed (Salicornia virginica)
Also known as Virginia Glasswort and Salt Marsh Pickleweed
Is being smothered by invasive spartina (marsh grasses) such as cordgrass
Perennial Herb
California Native, found throughout North America

12. Klamath River Estuary, California
Kosi Bay, Africa
Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
Klamath River Estuary, California

13. Works Cited http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/estuaries/about_index.cfm