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Estuarine Ecosystems

Estuarine ecosystems occur in coastal regions at the interface between saltwater and freshwater, such as saltwater marshes, river deltas and mangrove swamps. Ecosystem describes the interaction of organisms with each other and the physical world in which they live.

Importance
- Mangrove swamps provide breeding grounds for fish.
  
  Estuarine ecosystems provide a natural and economic resource. Their waters serve as the breeding grounds for fish. They act as buffer zones between hurricanes and inland areas. People use them for recreational purposes, including fishing, boating, hiking and birdwatching.
Tidal Action
- At low tide, mud flats are exposed.
  
  Tidal action provides an important physical attribute of estuarine ecosystems. Animals and plants are subjected to rising and falling water levels. Plants must adapt to being submerged in water for at least a portion of the day.
Brackish Water
- Estuarine ecosystems contain grasses resistant to high salinity conditions.
  
  Estuarine ecosystems contain brackish water, which is a mixture of freshwater and saltwater. The salinity of the water depends on the flow of freshwater into the ecosystem. During droughts, less freshwater flows into the ecosystem. Water salinity increases, which has an impact on the organisms that live there.
Environmental Concerns
- Poorly functioning estuarine ecosystems result in fish kills.
  
  Anything that alters the flow of water through an estuarine ecosystem harms the plants and animals that live there. These areas have been dredged, filled-in and used for waste dumps. These activities pose problems for fish populations because they destroy fish breeding grounds.

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