AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Nutrients-especially nitrogen and phosphorus-are key water quality parameters in estuaries. Depending on their chemical forms (or species), nitrogen and phosphorus can have significant direct or indirect impacts on plant growth, oxygen concentrations, water clarity, and sedimentation rates, just to name a few.

Detailed explanation-2: -Some common estuarine habitats are oyster reefs, kelp forests, rocky and soft shorelines, submerged aquatic vegetation, coastal marshes, mangroves, deepwater swamps, and riparian forests.

Detailed explanation-3: -Grass shrimp are abundant in estuaries along the eastern coast of the United States and into the Gulf of Mexico (Morgan, 1980). They are also called glass shrimp, popcorn shrimp, jumpers, glass prawns, and hard backs and can survive in fresh and brackish water (mixture of fresh and salt water) (Anderson, 1985).

Detailed explanation-4: -Estuaries are among the most productive environments on earth. 4 times more productive in plant matter than a rye grass pasture and 20 times more productive than the open sea. Extremely rich in organic matter and nutrients. Photosynthesis occurs throughout the water column and on the sediment surface – very productive.