1. Estuaries

3. Coastal Ecosystems
Highly productive
Nutrient-rich
Ample sunlight
Shelter

4. Estuary Partially enclosed water bodies where fresh and saltwater mix
Constant flushing and exchange of nutrients

5. Salt-wedge Estuary
occurs when high-salinity seawater from the ocean slips into the estuary under the less dense fresh water coming in from the river

6. Importance of Estuaries:
Feeding ground
Spawning ground
Nursery area
Sediment stabilizer
Protection from storms

7. Estuaries- Variation of salinity- affects distribution of marine life
Very hardy due to the many changes they must be able to tolerate
Salinity
Oxygen
Temperature

8. 4 Types of Estuaries based on Origin:
1.Coastal plain- sea level rises and floods existing river valleys(Chesapeake Bay) 2.Fjord-forms as sea level rises and floods glaciated valley (coasts of Alaska, Canada) 3.Bar-built-shallow and separated from the open ocean by sand bars deposited parallel to the coast by wave action (US Gulf Coast) 4.Tectonic-faulting or folding or rocks creates restricted drowned river valleys (San Francisco Bay)

9. Where are these type of organisms more likely to be found in an estuary?
Euryhaline- Capable of tolerating a wide range of salt water concentrations; found down in the estuary
Example: bull shark
Stenohaline-animals are those which are sensitive to relatively small changes in salinity; found deeper water and open sea

10. Florida Shoreline Estuary Communities consist of:
Mangrove & Salt marsh

11. Distribution of Salt Marsh vs. Mangroves
Salt marshes are found along most U.S. shores
BUT
Mangrove swamps are only in limited areas.
Where are mangrove swamps limited too? Tropical climates

12. Most plants can’t live in saltwater b/c osmosis dehydrates them
Salt Marshes
Variation in salinity of a salt marsh is important in distribution of marine plants.
Most plants can’t live in saltwater b/c osmosis dehydrates them

13. Organisms in Salt Marsh Community
Fiddler crabs
Worms
Juncus
Spartina
Mosquitoes

14. Salt Marsh Zonation (draw in notes)

15. Mangroves

16. Mangrove Swamps
Bigger, tougher than halophytes, & found in tropical climates
Red, White, Black mangroves
Disappearing due to social pressures
Red, White, and Black Mangrove Leaves (left to right; topsides)
Red, White, and Black Mangrove Leaves (left to right; undersides)

17. Organisms in Mangrove Community
Pelicans and other seabirds
Mangrove and fiddler crabs
Oysters
Mussels
Many small fish
Snails

18. 10.13 Detritus
Loose material from the breakup of organic and inorganic material (organic muds, ooze)
typically includes the bodies or fragments of dead organisms as well as fecal material
Serves as a food source for microscopic organisms

19. Mangroves are trees
that have the ability to
tolerate salt.

20. There are 3 different species of Mangroves in Florida
Black
White

21. Red mangroves 1. usually found closest to the salt water.
2. prop and drop roots
3. propagule or pencil—cigar shaped seedlings which begin to grow on the tree, drop off, then float in the water until they plant themselves.
4. leaves large, rounded, thick, and waxy.

22. -Seeds look like large lima beans
Black mangroves
-Form behind the red mangroves
-Pneumatophores—slender upright aerating roots which stick out of the mud.
-Seeds look like large lima beans
-Leaves are leathery with silvery undersides. They excrete salt on the upper sides.
-Tallest of the mangroves.

23. White mangroves Generally the third zone from the sea.
Have pneumatophores but not as many as the black.
Leaves are rounded with a “dip” at the tip. At the base of each leaf are two bumps which secrete nectar which attracts ants for pollination.

24. Mangrove Zonation (draw in notes)
Intertidal
zone
red
white
black