Salt Beaches In Florida's Coastal Ecosystem

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The coastal waters inhabit a very important ecosystem. On the west coast of Florida there is less wave energy than the east coast, which helps to protect the inshore marshes there. The salt marshes play a vital role in alleviating the shoreline by trapping sediments and in turn creating land in the process. Development near the shoreline of these coastal waters can have an impact on the water quality. Runoffs from storms, sewage, bridges and other structures can alter water flow and increase or decrease salinity levels. This is very important because salinity has a lot to do with what organisms and nekton can exist there. Salt marshes play a critical role in the ecosystem by providing safety and breeding/nursery grounds for various fish and

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