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Estuaries and Coral Reefs

Estuaries and Coral Reefs. Chapters 3.4 and 3.5. Estuaries. Estuaries are formed where a freshwater river empties into an ocean. The resulting water is brackish – a mixture of fresh and saltwater 3 main types: 1. salt marsh or wetland , 2. mud flat or 3. mangrove swamp .

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Estuaries and Coral Reefs

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  1. Estuaries and Coral Reefs Chapters 3.4 and 3.5

  2. Estuaries • Estuaries are formed where a freshwater river empties into an ocean. • The resulting water is brackish – a mixture of fresh and saltwater • 3 main types: 1. salt marsh or wetland, 2. mud flat or 3. mangrove swamp. • May form what we call a bay.

  3. Wetlands (Salt Marsh) • May be protected by barrier beaches which were formed by the retreat of glaciers. • Barrier beaches protect the bay from ocean winds and waves. Ex. LBI, Seaside, Brigantine, Wildwood, etc. • “Nurseries of the sea”

  4. Wetlands (con’t) • Grasses, like cordgrass, are specially adapted to the salt – glands that excrete salt • Some marsh grasses actually filter pollution • Crabs, fish, mussels, barnacles live here

  5. Salt Marsh – Delaware Bay

  6. Mudflats • “Graveyards of the sea” • Very stinky mud caused by bacteria breaking down dead and decaying material and releasing SO2 – which smells like rotten eggs. • Very rich, dark sand because there is little flushing (water moving in and out). • This is where clams come from

  7. Mudflat – Delaware Bay

  8. Barrier Beaches of NJ

  9. Mangroves • Tropical bays and inlets covered by a thick growth of mangrove trees. • Red, white and black mangrove trees • Prop roots stick above water during low tide.

  10. Mangroves (con’t) • Roots trap lots of nutrients making the mangroves a very rich environment • Natural buffer to weather disasters

  11. Mangrove

  12. Coral Reefs • Contain more biodiversity of any other marine ecosystems • Found 30 degrees North and 30 degrees South of the equator • Very sensitive to human influence • Cloudy water, increased or decreased water temperature could kill the reef animals

  13. Coral Reef – “Rainforests of the Sea” because of biodiversity

  14. Unique Adaptations of Reef Animals • Camouflage • Color contrast – confuses predators • Disruptive coloration – breaks up the outline of the fish • Territoriality

  15. Camouflage

  16. Color Contrast

  17. Disruptive Coloration

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