Hobbies And Interests
Mangrove
The tree vegetation that grows in the muddy coastal areas between high and low water is collectively known as mangrove. Mangrove forests are only able to flourish where the incoming waves are broken by barriers. As an ecosystem, mangrove forests protect the coastline from erosion; provide nursery grounds for fish, shrimp, clams, crabs and snails; and provide food via nutrient-rich mud and leaf litter.
Coral Reef
Corals are composed of thin layers of calcium carbonate that are secreted by animals called coral polyps. Corals can be hard, as in the case of pillar corral, or soft, as in sea fans. Together, these form the basis of coral reefs - one of the earth's most biologically diverse ecosystems. Coral reefs play host to crustaceans, sponges, sea turtles, fish, dolphins, sharks and mollusks. Each part of the reef is interconnected with a huge number of other animals, plants and organisms. The overall health of the reef is therefore directly linked to the surrounding marine and terrestrial environments.
Seagrass
Seagrass is the ocean's only submerged flowering plant that has leaves, rhizomes and real roots. The plant forms large colonies at between 2 and 12 meters deep. Seagrasses provide valuable ecosystem services, including functioning as a habitat and breeding ground for aquatic animals, altering the flow of water with their leaves, stabilizing the sea bed with their roots and rhizomes, and helping reduce the impact of nutrient and sediment pollution.
Estuaries
Estuaries are partially enclosed coastal areas that receive a supply of salt water from the sea and a supply of fresh water from inland. Estuary ecosystems include river mouths, tidal swamps and some bays. Estuaries are rich in nutrients provided by their dual water supplies. These are mixed together via the tides, wind and currents, and result in a unique source of food for a number of plants and animals.