Estuarine and Coastal Marsh Communities

Objectives:1. Describe estuary, coastal marsh, and their

relationship to the ocean community.2. Introduce life cycles of the oopu and salmon, and

discuss the physiological adaptations of each.3. Describe abiotic factors that shape these

environments.4. Discuss reasons to protect these environments.

• semi-enclosed areas where fresh water and seawater meet and mix

• soft mud bottom• Includes: bays and

sounds, salt water marshes, mangrove forests

areas that are partially flooded during high tide

dominated by grasses and salt-tolerant land plants

Natural filter

1. pollution2. salinity

• fluctuates widely• varies with depth

3. tidal currents4. water

temperatures5. water clarity due to

sediment

Most productive ecosystems in the world

provide habitat for many species of birds

nurseries for fishes and marine invertebrates

use both fresh and salt water habitats during their life cycle

Examples: • Salmon• O’opu

(Hawaii)

Native fishes (gobies) eggs hatch in streams

and hatchlings get washed into the ocean

after 4 to 6 months, head back upstream to spawn (lay eggs)

climb waterfalls suction-cup pectoral

fins dip head into water

to catch their breath

http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/pubs/Nopili.pdf

Now…Now… Time to work on your coral zonation

lab …. Ask questions now. Due tomorrow!