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CHARACTERISTICS: - mixture of fresh & saltwater found along coastlines - absorbs excess rain - filters out pollutants & sediments - most biologically diverse ecosystem - many endangered species - water currents provide mineral-rich mud and nutrients for plantlife
COASTAL WETLANDS & ESTUARES
HUMAN USE: - recreational area for boating, fishing, & hunting
CONNECTION WITH SURROUNDING ECOSYSTEMS: - protects surrounding areas from flooding - rivers & oceans provide fresh nutrients - mainland, peninsulas, & barrier islands protect from harsh ocean waves - feeding & breeding grounds for surrounding marine and land animals
THREATS to WETLANDS: - common waste-dumping sites - sewage & toxic chemicals - agricultural soil runoff - pesticides & fertilizers (able to break down over time, but can't cope with concentrated amounts)
DEFINITIONS: Wetlands - coastal land areas covered by salt water for all or part of year Estuaries - area where fresh water from river mixes with salt water from ocean Salt Marshes - where rivers deposit mineral-rich mud in estuaries Mangrove Swamps - wetlands found in tropical regions Rocky/Sandy Shores - rocks & sand along coastline provide anchorage for various underwater plants & animals (seaweed, mussels, sponges)
DANGERS TO HUMANS w/o WETLANDS: - greater floods, harsh ocean waves, and storm damage - build up of pollutants - land erosion - loss of wildlife (no breeding & feeding grounds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz0EI0-M37Q
