MARINE ECOSYSTEMS: ESTUARY

AND COASTAL WETLANDS

 What is an estuary?

An estuary is where the ocean meets a river in a

semi-enclosed area. This causes a mixing of
fresh and salt water. These areas are home to an
immense amount of biological productivity and
diversity. Estuaries tend to be rich in nutrients
and productivity due to the trapping of nutrients
and sediments.
Abiotic factors

Abiotic factors limit distribution and abundance by

affecting an organism's life processes. In an estuarine
ecosystem these factors are light, oxygen, water,
nutrients, temperature, salinity, and space.
 Classification of Estuaries
Estuaries can be classified into 4 types depending on their
origins:
• 1. Coastal Plains/Drowned River Mouth:
In the past 18,000 years sea levels have risen
some 125m. This has caused ocean water to
rise into the mouths of rivers. (River mouths
are the "exits" of a river into a lake, ocean,
etc).
• 2. Fjords:
Fjords are steep, caused by glacial eroding. They are
U-shaped. Fjords are often very deep (300-
400m) but end in a shallow lip (a sill) due to glacial
deposits.  Shallow sills mean little vertical mixing
below sill depth which causes stagnant water.
Deeper sill allow for slow bottom water mixing.
•
3. Bar-Built:
Bar-built estuaries form when a barrier is built
parallel to the coast above sea level. These
estuarine habitats are shallow and have limited
tidal action due to a narrow inlet (connection
to the ocean). Mixing is primarily due to the
wind.
• 4. Tectonic:
Tectonic estuaries are coastal indentations due
to faulting and subsidence. Both fresh and salt
water flow into the depression resulting in an
estuary.
 Estuaries can also be classified by the circulation patterns:

Salt Wedge:
This is the simplest circulation pattern where a large, fast flowing river enters the ocean in an area
where the tidal range is low to moderate. The rapidly entering freshwater holds back a wedge of
salt water. The density difference allow the freshwater to flow over the salt water. The wedge of
seawater will rise and fall with the tide. Example: Mississippi River
• Well-Mixed:
When the river flows more slowly into an area
with a moderate to high tidal range, a well-
mixed estuary is formed. These contain
differing mixtures of fresh and salt water
through most of their length. Disturbances
caused by the tide will stir the waters together.
Example: Columbia River
• Partially Mixed:
Partially mixed estuaries share properties of both
the salt wedge and well-mixed estuaries. These are
typically deeper estuaries where the greater tidal
range allows for more mixing than the salt wedge.
Example: San Fransisco Bay
• Fjord:
Fjord circulation patterns are found in fjord
estuaries. These areas have small surface areas, high
river input and little tidal mixing. River water tends
to flow at the surface with little contact with the sea
water below. With little mixing, the bottom layer
can become stagnant (little oxygen and few
nutrients)
Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands Are
Highly Productive (2)

 Important ecological and economic services

• Coastal aquatic systems maintain water quality
by filtering
• Toxic pollutants
• Excess plant nutrients
• Sediments
• Absorb other pollutants
• Provide food, timber, fuelwood, and habitats
• Reduce storm damage and coast erosion