GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Many plant and animal species thrive in estuaries. The calm waters provide a safe area for small fish, shellfish, migrating birds and shore animals. The waters are rich in nutrients such as plankton and bacteria. Decomposing plant matter, called detritus, provides food for many species.

Detailed explanation-2: -Because they are biologically productive, estuaries provide ideal areas for migratory birds to rest and refuel during their long journeys. Because many species of fish and wildlife rely on the sheltered waters of estuaries as protected spawning places, estuaries are often called the “nurseries of the sea."

Detailed explanation-3: -Importance of estuaries They are often called the “nurseries of the sea” because numerous animal species rely on estuaries for nesting and breeding. Most of the fish and shellfish eaten in the United States, including salmon, herring, and oysters, complete at least part of their life cycles in estuaries.

Detailed explanation-4: -Estuaries play an important role as transition zones (i.e., ecotones) between terrestrial and ocean systems as a pathway for nutrients, organic matter, and sediments, and have long received much attention all over the world (Reise 1985; McLusky and Elliott 2007).

Detailed explanation-5: -Bays, harbors, sounds, and other estuaries include habitats like marshes, mangroves, and seagrass beds. You might also find oyster reefs, kelp forests, and rocky or soft shorelines. Each of these habitats are populated with creatures that thrive in that setting.