Biota of Estuaries

Biota of Estuaries

	Biota of Estuaries In estuaries, the plants of different groups are present, including phytoplankton, benthic diatoms, bacteria and fungi and larger macrophytes. Though estuaries are rich in their nutrients phytoplanktonic organisms are not abundant. This is due to the reduction in light penetration as a result of turbidity. Most of them are marine in origin and fresh water phytoplankton is poorly represented
The important estuarine phytoplanktonic organisms are diatoms and dinoflagellates. The diatoms are Skeletonema costatum, Parallia sulcata, Chaetoceras debills, etc. Ceratium furga and Ceratium buceros are the dinoflagellates of the estuaries. The benthic diatoms are bottom dwelling organisms which are the primary producers and serve as food for a variety of estuarine animals. Euglena obtuse is quite common in the bottom of the estuaries.
Both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria inhabit the estuarine water and also the bottom. Sulphate reducing bacteria are found in the mud. Generally all types of bacteria decompose the organic substances of the estuaries. The fungi such as Mucor and Pencillium also decompose the organic materials of the estuaries. The macrophytes are larger plants which are also found in the estuaries. Brown algae like Fucus, Cladophora and Vaucheria, Chorophyceae and Xanthophyceae are the common algae of the estuaries. Besides, eel-grass are the typical vegetation of the estuaries
The planktonic organisms of the estuaries are not true estuarine forms, but are brought into the estuaries from the sea by the tides. They are again carried out on the ebb. Thus, there is only a temporary plankton whose stay in the estuary is brief, being limited to the duration of a single tide. Planktonic organisms of fresh water origin may be brought into the estuary by the river which are finally carried to the sea and are perished. The fresh water planktons such as Daphnia, Bosmina, Holopedium, Cyclops and Diaptomus are usually found in the estuarine water.
	In estuaries with a long flushing time and a fairly stable salinity gradient there is the possibility of a permanent plankton. Moreover estuaries possess distinct blooms such as red tides of large blooms of red pigmented dinoflagellates such as species of Gonyaulax and Gymnodinium

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Marine Ecosystem Downwelling General Characteristics of Sea Biota Marine Microbes Bacterial Flora of the Sea Functions of Marine Flora Estuarine Ecosystem Biota of Estuaries Mangrove Ecosystem Characteristic Features of Mangroves Zonation Biota of Mangrove Other Interrelated Ecosystems

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