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!