ESTUARY ECOSYSTEM

 ESTUARY ECOSYSTEM

·       An Estuary or Translational water is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the Ocean.

·   In Estuaries, the salty ocean mixes with a freshwater river, resulting in Brackish water (salinity varies between 0 - 35 ppt). Brackish water is somewhat salty, but not as salty as the ocean.

·      Examples of Estuaries are River mouths, Coastal bays, Tidal marshes, Lagoons and Deltas.

·     India has 14 major, 44 medium and 162 minor rivers drains into the sea through various Estuaries.

LIFE IN ESTUARY ECOSYSTEM

·   Only certain types of plants and animals adapted to the “brackish” estuarine waters. Factors influencing the distribution of organism in an Estuary are its Salinity and the amount of Flooding.

·     In general, the Phytoplankton of estuaries are Diatoms, Dinoflagellates, Green algae and Blue-green algae.

·       Towards the Sea coast of the Estuaries, there are large Algae and Seagrasses. Near the mouth of the Rivers and deltas, there are Mangrove forests.

·    Estuaries are homes to all king of terrestrial or land-based plants and animals, such as Wood storks, Pelicans, Coniferous, Deciduous trees and Butterflies.

·       Estuaries are also home to unique Aquatic plants and animals, such as Sea turtles, Sea lions, Sea catfish, Saltworts, eelgrass, Salt grasses, Cordgrasses, Seagrass, Sedge, Bulrush etc.

ESTUARY ECOSYSTEM THREATS

·     Modifications of the Estuarine catchments (action of collecting water) result in changes in water flow in various estuaries.

·       Pollution through industries and combined city sewage discharge.

·       Recreational boating and fishing.

·       Navigation and Shipping.

·      Expansion of urban and rural settlements, mining and industries, agriculture and dumping of solid wastes.

·       Polluting the environment through feeding of stocked fish and prawn.

·       Overexploitation (excessive usage) of target fish stock due to increased demand.

·       Obstructing (blocking) the migratory routes of Fish and Prawn recruitment.

·       Destruction of biodiversity through Prawn seed collection and operation of Small-meshed nets.