Estuaries- Nature's Water Blender

Seffen and Moravichik introduce estuaries by explaining the way the freshwater from rivers flow to the sea and mix with the saltwater. Estuaries are Nature’s water blender because in coastal regions the freshwater from rivers meets the salt water of the ocean and are mixed in several different ways. The diverse mixture of salt water to fresh water creates different habitats with a complex ecosystem. Estuaries are important to the environment as well as the economy. Estuaries have very different temperatures and precipitation averages because of the different regions where they can be found. Keeping estuaries healthy is an important job throughout the world. Estuary biomes are full of surprises (Seffen & Moravichik, 2008).

According to the EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, estuaries are really important to the economy and environment of every continent where they can be found. In the United States alone 75% of commercial fishing is provided from the habitat of estuaries. That adds $4.3 billion a year from estuaries to our economy. A healthy habitat from estuaries allows us continued survival for many birds, animals, reptiles, and varied aquatic life. Estuaries also provide recreation and the tourism is another boost to the economy (EPA, 2012).

Estuaries offer many benefits. The natural barrier they provide can help prevent floods, they help filter the water in our oceans, the fish there are a major source of protein as well as helping maintain the fish population in the ocean. Estuaries also provide jobs, recreation, Since they are the most productive ecosystems in the world they are extremely important to mankind. It is not surprising that the biggest threat to estuaries is mankind. They have been filled in, dredged, or ove...

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...remappingfoundation.org/natmap/marine/estuary_animals.html

EPA. (2012). Basic information about estuaries. Retrieved March 14, 2014, from http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/nep/about.cfm

Nelson, R., Stenstorm, J., Audel, H., Coleman, J., Walker, M., Serengeti, S., & Tucker, D. (2003). Estuaries Biome. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://thewildclassroom.com/biomes/estuaries.html

Seffen, P., & Moravchik, B. (2008, March 25). Estuaries. Retrieved March 18, 2014, from http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries/html

Seffen, P., & Moravchik, B. (2008, March 25). Estuaries 101 Middle School Curriculum. Retrieved March 11, 2014, from http://estuaries.noaa.gov/Teachers/estuaries.aspx

Wassilieff, M. (2012, July 13). 3. Plants of the estuary – Estuaries – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/estuaries/page-3