Across
- 2. Species of organisms capable of tolerating a wide range of salinity levels, allowing them to thrive in estuaries.
- 4. The concentration of salt or dissolved salts in water, which varies in estuaries due to the mixing of freshwater and seawater.
- 8. Organisms that live on or in the sediment at the bottom of an estuary, including clams, worms, and burrowing crabs.
- 10. A plant adapted to thrive in saline environments, commonly found in estuarine marshes and mudflats.
- 13. Water in estuaries that has a salinity level between that of freshwater and seawater.
- 15. The difference in water level between high tide and low tide, which can influence the characteristics of estuarine ecosystems.
- 17. The benefits that estuaries provide to human communities, including water filtration,fisheries support, and storm protection.
- 18. The cloudiness or haziness of water caused by the presence of suspended particles,often affected by tidal action and sediment resuspension.
- 19. The seafloor or sediment and the communities of organisms that live within it, contributing to the biodiversity of estuaries
Down
- 1. A type of estuarine wetland dominated by salt-tolerant grasses, rushes, and sedges, providing habitat and stabilizing shorelines.
- 2. A flow of freshwater from a river into an estuary, forming a visible, riverine "plume" within the saltier estuarine waters.
- 3. A coastal wetland ecosystem dominated by salt-tolerant mangrove trees, which provide habitat and protect coastlines from erosion.
- 5. A structure made up of oyster shells and live oysters that provides habitat, improves water quality, and serves as a protective barrier in estuaries.
- 6. A wedge-shaped intrusion of saltwater from the ocean into an estuary, which can affect the distribution of salinity within the estuary.
- 7. The complex pattern of water movement within an estuary, influenced by tides, winds, and river input.
- 9. A semi-enclosed coastal area where freshwater from rivers and streams meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean.
- 11. The volume of water that enters or exits an estuary with each tidal cycle, influencing the estuary's circulation and flushing rate.
- 12. The process of nutrient enrichment in an estuary, often caused by excess nutrient runoff, leading to water quality problems and algal blooms.
- 14. The underlying surface or material on the estuary's bottom, which can range from sand and mud to rocks and oyster beds.
- 16. The process by which sediments, including silt and clay particles, settle out of water and accumulate in estuarine areas.