Animals Found in Estuaries

8/14/2019 Animals Found in Estuaries

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EstuariesEstuaries


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Few animals can live their entire lives inFew animals can live their entire lives inestuaries. However, estuaries are criticalestuaries. However, estuaries are critical

habitat for certain wild animals at somehabitat for certain wild animals at some

stage of their livesstage of their lives

The few estuarine animal species thatThe few estuarine animal species thathave adapted to the characteristicallyhave adapted to the characteristicallychangeable conditions of salinity,changeable conditions of salinity,

temperature, and water level found intemperature, and water level found in

these tidal areas grow and multiply rapidlythese tidal areas grow and multiply rapidly


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Some species, such asSome species, such asspawning whitefish andspawning whitefish and

migrating sandpipers,migrating sandpipers,

move en masse intomove en masse into

estuaries at specificestuaries at specifictimes of the year.times of the year.


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A variety ofA variety ofinvertebrates,invertebrates,

including mussels,including mussels,clams, snails,clams, snails,

amphipods, or smallamphipods, or small

shelled creatures,shelled creatures,

segmented worms,segmented worms,and lugworms, feastand lugworms, feast

on detritus and eachon detritus and each

other in the mudflatsother in the mudflats

and fall prey to aand fall prey to a

multitude of fish andmultitude of fish and

birds.birds.


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Estuary Food WebEstuary Food Web


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Coral ReefsCoral Reefs


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The coral reef ecosystem is a diverseThe coral reef ecosystem is a diversecollection of species that interact withcollection of species that interact witheach other and the physical environment.each other and the physical environment.

The sun is the initial source of energy forThe sun is the initial source of energy for

this ecosystem. Through photosynthesis,this ecosystem. Through photosynthesis,phytoplankton, algae, and other plantsphytoplankton, algae, and other plants

convert light energy into chemical energy.convert light energy into chemical energy.

As animals eat plants or other animals, aAs animals eat plants or other animals, a

portion of this energy is passed on.portion of this energy is passed on.


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Sponges have been aSponges have been a

part of the coral reefpart of the coral reefecosystem from early on.ecosystem from early on.

Several species of theseSeveral species of these

porous animals inhabitporous animals inhabit

reefs. Sponges providereefs. Sponges provideshelter for fishes,shelter for fishes,

shrimps, crabs, and othershrimps, crabs, and other

small animals. Theysmall animals. They

appear in a variety ofappear in a variety of

shapes and colors.shapes and colors.


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Sea anemones are close relatives ofSea anemones are close relatives ofcorals. An anemone's tentaclescorals. An anemone's tentacles

provide refuge for fishes and theirprovide refuge for fishes and their

eggs. In return, fishes may protecteggs. In return, fishes may protectthe anemone from predators such asthe anemone from predators such as

butterflyfishes.butterflyfishes.


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Bryozoans encrustBryozoans encrustthe reef. Thesethe reef. These

microscopicmicroscopic

invertebrates frominvertebrates from

branching coloniesbranching colonies

over coral skeletonsover coral skeletonsand reef debris,and reef debris,

cementing the reefcementing the reef

structure.structure.


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Reefs are also home to a large variety ofReefs are also home to a large variety of

other organisms, including fish, sponges,other organisms, including fish, sponges,Cnidarians (which includes some types ofCnidarians (which includes some types of

corals and jellyfish), worms, crustaceanscorals and jellyfish), worms, crustaceans

(including shrimp, cleaner shrimp, spiny(including shrimp, cleaner shrimp, spiny

lobsters and crabs), molluscs (includinglobsters and crabs), molluscs (includingcephalopods), echinoderms (includingcephalopods), echinoderms (including

starfish, sea urchins and sea cucumbers),starfish, sea urchins and sea cucumbers),

sea squirts, turtles such as the sea turtle,sea squirts, turtles such as the sea turtle,

green turtle and hawksbill turtle and seagreen turtle and hawksbill turtle and sea

snakes.snakes.


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Coral ReefsCoral Reefs

Food WebFood Web

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Animals Found in Estuaries