SCIENCE 5

Q2_Week 8
REVIEW
What are some living
organisms in an
intertidal zone and
estuarine ecosystem?
 The Need to Protect
and Conserve Estuaries
and Intertidal Zones
Like other ecosystems, estuaries
and intertidal zones needs to be
protected because of the
presence of organisms that are
dependent on their unique
conditions. Our country is rich in
different forms of ecosystem
because of the presence of so
many rivers and long shorelines.
Like the Manila Bay which
has both intertidal zones
and estuaries, human
should do actions that will
not destroy but support the
interactions of the
organisms living in the
area. There are a lot of
ways of taking good care
the environment.
You learned in the previous
lessons that intertidal zone
and estuaries are homes to
different kinds of living
things. These make them a
vital place of the earth.
These places are meant to
be protected by us human
beings.
However, most of our intertidal zones and
estuaries are already under threat. Some of
them are being converted to buildings,
malls, etc. while others are now extensively
polluted by man’s industrial activities.
Thus, we should protect and conserve our
environment now before it is too late.
Negative Impacts of
Human Activities on
Estuarine System
■ Loss of habitat for the
organisms brought about
by development, loss of
recreational opportunities
due to poor water quality,
fish kills, and loss of
economic resources such
as reduction in fisheries.
■ Pollution of the water poses a
health threat to coastal
settlers, swimmers, divers,
and seafood consumers. Fish
and shellfish may accumulate
toxins in their tissues and can
cause illness or even death in
people and animals when
they are eaten.
■Estuarine waters get
contaminated from the
discharge of wastes that
include chemicals used
as fertilizers and from
livestock like poultry
and piggery.
■ Spread of disease-
causing organisms like
viruses, bacteria, and
parasites brought about
by sewage released into
estuaries by faulty or
leaky septic systems.
■ Wastes from sewage
treatment plants runoff from
urban areas and animal
operations, medical wastes,
boat and marine wastes,
combined sewer overflows,
and wastes from pets and
wildlife also contribute to
the pollution of the
environment.
Positive Things people
Can Do to Protect
Estuaries
Be informed and get involved
■ The people should be aware that estuaries are sensitive
habitat areas.
■ They should get involved in dealing with habitat
issues that affect the community in which they live or
work.
■ In your case as pupils, you may join tree-planting
programs, clean-up drive in school and in your own
community.
Take full responsibility for one’s own backyard.
■ Minimize the application of fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides in your
yard.
■ Use environment-friendly products such as organic fertilizers and
biocontrols in place of pesticides to safeguard the entry of harmful
substances into the waters and end up in estuaries.
■ Conserve water in your daily life to reduce runoff that may finds its way
into the estuaries.
■ Conserve water in your daily life to reduce runoff that may find its way
into the estuaries.
■ Preserve existing trees and plant new trees and shrubs to help prevent
erosion.
■ Dispose your yard wastes and chemicals properly.
Practice good housekeeping at all times.
■ In every household, each person is
encouraged to keep all forms of garbage out
of street gutters and storm drains.
■ Install water-saving devices in showerheads
and toilet bowls.
■ Replace any dripping faucets or leaky pipes.
■ Don’t dispose toxic wastes and
chemicals down on your toilet bowl.
■ Buy and use non-toxic household
products.
■ Practice 5Rs
■ Always follow label instructions for the
use and disposal of household
chemicals.
Give due respect and great concern to estuary.
■ When you enter an estuary riding a hired boat, be careful
not to touch or hurt the organisms there. Better still, avoid
entering sensitive habitat areas such as estuaries.
■ Make sure you keep all waste produced during picnics in
a safe bag and disposed properly when you’re back on
land.
■ Avoid dumping any chemical like gasoline and oil
products, or heavy metal into the waters of the estuary.
APPLICATION
Why are
intertidal zones
and estuaries
important?
Estuaries are important because it
filters dirt before the freshwater enters
the sea or oceans. It also filters the salt
from the seas and oceans before it
enters the mouth of the river. It also
plays a vital role during storms since it
serves as an exit point for floods.
GENERALIZATION

What can you do

to protect the
ecosystems?
EVALUATION
Learning Task 1: Draw a smiley face on the action or activity that helps
protect and conserve the estuaries and intertidal zones.
____1. planting trees ____6. feeding the fish
____2. disposing garbage properly ___7. taking a bath with shampoo
____3. restricting fishing activities ____8. collecting starfish
____4. banning recreational birding ____9. removing sea urchin
____5. avoiding oil leaks _____10. cleaning up the rivers
GOOGLE CLASSROOM

■ Learning Task 2-3