What are some of the adaptations exhibited by organisms living in estuaries? How do pelagic species use estuaries to their advantage?
· Organisms that reside in the estuary must be able to adapt to their rich yet variable environment.
· Some estuarine plants are able to reduce the amount of erosion near them by changing the flow of currents. They are able to trap silt particles and sediment at the base of their roots. This makes their position more stable.
· The plants of the estuary have variations in the root systems. Small plants are prone to having tiny projections that anchor them to the substrate while larger plants exhibit elaborate root systems.
· Most residents of the estuary burrow into the muddy substrate. This behavior gives them access to a high level of nutrients while providing shelter.
· Pelagic species use the estuary as marine nurseries. Many fish lay their eggs in the estuary because they gain protection from the oceanic predators. Also, the larvae are able to take advantage of the high nutrients during vital growth stages of their life.
You might also like to view...
Energy of motion is also known as
a. ?dynamic energy. b. ?kinetic energy. c. ?sensible heat energy. d. ?static energy. e. ?latent heat energy.
If there is an abundance of foraminifera shells found in a sediment, it would be categorized as:
a. hydrogenous sediment. b. calcareous ooze. c. coccolithophore. d. siliceous ooze.
What process explains how hydrothermal vents are created?
a. Fracture zones b. Conduction c. Convection d. Pressure
When oceanic plates meet continental plates at a convergent boundary, a ____.?
a. subduction zone will form because the oceanic plate is more dense than the continental plate b. subduction zone will form because the oceanic plate is less dense than the continental plate c. rift zone will form because the oceanic plate is more dense than the continental plate d. rift zone will form because the oceanic plate is less dense than the continental plate e. ?subduction zone will form on the oceanic plate, and a rift zone will form on the continental plate