Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
Estuaries - Example Papers

Estuaries


An estuary is a coastal area where fresh water from rivers and streams
mixes with salt water from the ocean. Many bays, sounds, and lagoons along
coasts are . Portions of rivers and streams connected to are
also considered part of the estuary. The land area from which fresh water
drains into the estuary is its watershed. Estuaries come in all shapes and sizes,
each unique to their location and climate. Bays, sounds, marshes, swamps,
inlets, and sloughs are all examples of estuaries.
An estuary is a fascinating place from the largest landscape features to
the smallest microscopic organisms. When viewing an estuary from the air on is
practically amazed by dramatic river bends as ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

the tides, the days and the years, an estuary is
cradled between outreaching headlands and is buttressed on its vulnerable
seaward side by fingers of sand or mud.
Estuaries transform with the tides, the incoming waters seemingly
bringing back to life organisms that have sought shelter from their temporary
exposure to the non-aquatic world. As the tides decline, organisms return to
their protective postures, receding into sediments and adjusting to changing
temperatures.
The community of life found on the land and in the water includes
mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, shellfish, and plants all interacting within
complex food webs. Flocks of shore birds stilt through the shallows, lunging
long bills at their abundant prey of fish, worms, crabs or clams. Within the
sediments, whether mud, sand or rocks, live billions of microscopic bacteria, a
lower level of the food web based largely on decaying plants.
Estuaries are tidally-influenced ecological systems where rivers meet
the ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.


Already a member? Login

They are critical for the survival of fish, birds, and other wildlife
because they provide safe spawning grounds and nurseries. Marshes and other
vegetation in the estuaries protect marine life and water quality by filtering
sediment and pollution. They also provide barriers against damaging storm waves
and floods.
Estuaries also have economic, recreational, and aesthetic value. People
love water sports and visit estuaries to boat, fish, swim, and just enjoy their
beauty. As a result, the economy of many coastal areas is based primarily on
the natural beauty and bounty of their estuaries. Estuaries often have ports
serving shipping, transportation, and industry. Healthy ...

Succeed in your coursework without stepping into a library.
Get access to a growing library of notes, book reports,
and research papers in 2 minutes or less.


CITE THIS PAGE:

Estuaries. (2007, November 26). Retrieved March 28, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Estuaries/74898
"Estuaries." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 26 Nov. 2007. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Estuaries/74898>
"Estuaries." Essayworld.com. November 26, 2007. Accessed March 28, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Estuaries/74898.
"Estuaries." Essayworld.com. November 26, 2007. Accessed March 28, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Estuaries/74898.
JOIN NOW
Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays


PAPER DETAILS
Added: 11/26/2007 07:37:34 AM
Category: Science & Nature
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1264
Pages: 5

Save | Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS
Save and find your favorite essays easier

SIMILAR ESSAYS
» The Keys To Unlocking Transitio...
» Ocean Environment
» Water Transitions
» Flooding
» Fishing
» How North Carolina Is Affected ...
» The Planet In 2050
» American Crocodile
» The Making Of The Cat
» El Nino
Copyright | Cancel | Contact Us

Copyright © 2024 Essayworld. All rights reserved