Estuaries

Synthesis Question -- how can plankton control if they move up-river or downriver in an estuary?

• What is an estuary?

• What is an estuary?

• What is an estuary?

• How does the water move within them?

• Why?

• How much ocean water enters estuary?

• More or less than the river water?

• Why are estuaries important? Where land meets the sea– Pollution– Nutrients

• Where people enjoy the sea.

• Where people pollute the sea.

• Biologically very productive– Where are there nutrients?– Where is there sun?– Estuaries have it all

• Great fisheries (are or were)

• Brooding place for deep water fish

• How do baby fish and other larvae get into and out of estuary?

• Issues -- too many nutrients

• So? Anoxia

• Pfiesteria & Nutrients

• Red Tide

• Over fishing. Does this make nutrient loading worse? Likely, at least for over-harvesting of oysters.