What is the ecological and economic importance of Estuaries? Tens of thousands of birds, mammals, fish and other wildlife depend on estuarine habitats as places to live, feed and reproduce. The protected coastal waters of estuaries also support public infrastructure such as harbors and ports which are a vital part of shipping and transportation. Estuaries also have other important values. Many species of fish and wildlife depend on the sheltered waters and land areas of estuaries as spawning places. Arid … In a general sense, the estuarine environment is defined by salinity boundaries rather than by geographic boundaries. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environments known as ecotone. Estuaries provide people with many opportunities for recreation including boating, fishing, swimming, diving, windsurfing and bird watching. What are Estuaries? Brackish water is somewhat salty, but not as salty as the ocean. Estuaries support a diversity of species of fish, shellfish, aquatic plants and animals. Nutrients are taken up by plants or recycled by sediments. Estuaries provide places for recreational activities and scientific studies. Tourism, fisheries, and other commercial activities thrive on the wealth of natural resources estuaries supply. In the upper reaches of estuaries, freshwater inflow transports sediments that settle along the bottom in quiet water areas. Most commercial and game fish breed and raise their young in coastal marshes and estuaries. These freshwater inputs often have additional nutrients compared to the natural situation because they receive wastes from cities towns and farms. Estuaries also filter pollutants out of the water flowing through them, including pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals. It is here that young fish, shrimp and crabs find food and hide from predators. •estuaries are important, highly productive habitats at the sea-land interface •estuarine populations and communities are structured both by strong abiotic influences (e.g., salinity gradients) and biotic interactions (e.g., competition, predation, facilitation) •a variety of human actions have caused a large fraction of estuaries to be destroyed (e.g., infilling) or damaged (e.g., pollution) The importance of estuaries slideshow The importance of estuaries video, narrated by Long Bay Primary Room 12 students Focus question What is an Estuaries are semi enclosed bodies of water formed when fresh water from rivers and coastal streams flows into and mixes with salt water of … Estuaries are often the cultural centres of coastal communities and serve as the focal point for local commerce, tourism and recreation activities. Estuaries are important sites of nutrient recycling in the coastal environment. Some organisms, like oysters, make estuaries their … The protected coastal waters of estuaries also support public infrastructure such as harbors and ports which are a vital part of shipping and transportation. Ð Alteration of flow (dams) Ð Habitat degradation & destruction Ð Depletion of fish and wildlife Ð Chemical contamination (ÒpollutionÓ) ¥ Fresh/salt water boundary af fects physical state and chemical reactions of pollutants. Natural resources used by humans in estuaries. The filtration process that occurs in estuaries creates cleaner, clearer water; which benefits both people and the estuary marine life. Estuaries have an important commercial value. The protected waters provide vital nesting, breeding and feeding habitats for many species. An estuary is where the ocean meets a river in a semi-enclosed area. The information you provide in this form will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected. 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