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Biome

Estuary

Also Known As Lagoon · Tidal Inlet
Marine and Coastal Biomes

An estuary is a body of water usually found where a river meets the sea, mixing fresh water draining from the land with salty seawater into a brackish habitat unlike either parent body. This salty-fresh mix is a nursery ground for a large share of the fish humans catch, and supports plant and animal communities specifically adapted to fluctuating salinity and tide.

Facts
Disputed
Annual Precipitation (mm)
990 1
990mm is the source global ocean+land blended figure; the source does not isolate an estuary-specific figure. Estuaries occur on coastlines in every climate zone, so the same global ocean blend already used on the Marine and Open Ocean biome entities is applied here.
Typical Low Temperature (C)
13 2
13C is the low end of a single named example cited by the source, the Alan Estuary in England, not a global figure. Estuaries occur in every climate zone from tropical to Arctic wherever a river meets tidal water, and no single settled global range was found on an accessible source.
Typical High Temperature (C)
17 2
17C is the high end of the same single named example, the Alan Estuary in England, not a global figure; see this entity's temperature-low-c StatusNote for the same caveat.
Estuary
Filter Results1 entry
Connections

Demonstrates

Estuaries are a classic corridor for migratory fish and birds moving between fresh water, the open sea and the shore.

Source Estuaries (NOAA Ocean Service)

Home To

Alitta Virens, Species
Source Wikipedia: Alitta virens
Source Wikipedia: Aurelia aurita
Source Australian pied cormorant (Wikipedia)
Bald Eagle, Species
Source Wikipedia: Bald Eagle
Source SeaLifeBase: Rhizostoma pulmo summary
Source Black-faced cormorant (Wikipedia)
Source NatureServe Explorer: Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Blood Ark, Species
Source SeaLifeBase: Lunarca ovalis summary
Source Cardisoma guanhumi (Wikipedia)
Source Wikidata: Blue Swimmer Crab
Brown Shrimp, Species
Source Crangon crangon (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Callinectes sapidus
Canada goose, Species
Source Canada goose (Wikidata)
Source Carcinus maenas (Wikipedia)
Source Anomia simplex (Wikipedia)
Source Common shelduck (Wikipedia)
Source Crangon crangon (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Cuban crocodile
Source Wikipedia: Cuban tree frog
Source Wikipedia: Dungeness crab
Source Eurasian oystercatcher (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: European Anchovy
European Eel, Species
Source European Eel (Wikipedia)
Source Wikidata: European Flat Oyster
Source Carcinus maenas (Wikipedia)
Glaucous Gull, Species
Source NatureServe Explorer: Larus hyperboreus
Source Greater Flamingo (Wikipedia)
Source Harbour porpoise, Wikipedia
Source Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Wikipedia)
Source Wikidata: Josephoartigasia monesi
Least tern, Species
Source NatureServe Explorer: Sternula antillarum
Source NatureServe Explorer: Larus fuscus
Source Mozambique Tilapia (Wikipedia)
Mute Swan, Species
Source Wikipedia: Mute Swan
Source North American River Otter (Wikidata)
Source Wikipedia: Pacific oyster
Source Wikidata: Pale-edged stingray
Source Wikidata: Pfiesteria Piscicida
Pied avocet, Species
Source Pied avocet (Wikipedia)
Pied Stilt, Species
Source Pied stilt (Wikipedia)
Pink Salmon, Species
Source NatureServe Explorer: Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Royal tern, Species
Source NatureServe Explorer: Thalasseus maximus
Sea Spider, Species
Source Sea spider, Wikipedia
Seahorse, Species
Source Wikipedia: Seahorse
Source Smalltooth sawfish (Wikipedia)
Snowy Egret, Species
Source NatureServe Explorer: Egretta thula
Uca Pugilator, Species
Source Wikidata: Uca Pugilator
Source Vibrio vulnificus (Wikipedia)
Source White-fronted Tern (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Whiteleg shrimp

Showing 1 to 50 of 51 in Home To, page 1 of 2.

Sources
1. Precipitation (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWikipedia, Precipitation, lead section
Quote, Wikipedia, Precipitation, lead section
the globally averaged annual precipitation is 990 millimetres (39 in), but over land it is only 715 millimetres (28.1 in)
View the Source
2. Estuary Biome (Earth Eclipse)
Earth EclipseTemperature section
Quote, Temperature section
The temperature in Alan estuary in England, for example, ranges from 13 to 17 degrees Celsius or 55 to 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
View the Source
Estuaries (NOAA Ocean Service)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • NOAA Ocean Service, Estuaries, overview section
    Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea.
  • In Category: Biomes
  • Demonstrates: Migration
View the Source
Estuary (Wikipedia)
WikipediaDefinition section
Quote, Definition section
They can have many different names, such as bays, harbors, lagoons, inlets, or sounds, although some of these water bodies do not strictly meet the above definition of an estuary and could be fully saline.
View the Source
European Eel (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHome To: European EelView the Source
Greater Flamingo (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHome To: Greater FlamingoView the Source
Wikipedia: Seahorse
Home To: Seahorse, Wikipedia 'Seahorse': can be found in seas, brackish estuaries and lagoonsView the Source
Wikidata: Pfiesteria Piscicida
Home To: Pfiesteria Piscicida, IntroductionView the Source
Smalltooth sawfish (Wikipedia)
Home To: Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis pectinata), IntroductionView the Source
Cardisoma guanhumi (Wikipedia)
Home To: Blue Land Crab (Cardisoma guanhumi), IntroductionView the Source
Wikidata: Blue Swimmer Crab
Home To: Blue Swimmer Crab, IntroductionView the Source
Wikidata: European Flat Oyster
Home To: European Flat Oyster, IntroductionView the Source
Wikidata: Uca Pugilator
Home To: Uca Pugilator, IntroductionView the Source
North American River Otter (Wikidata)
WikidataHome To: North American River Otter, IntroductionView the Source
Canada goose (Wikidata)
WikidataHome To: Canada goose, IntroductionView the Source
Wikidata: Pale-edged stingray
Home To: Pale-edged stingray, IntroductionView the Source
Wikidata: Josephoartigasia monesi
Home To: Josephoartigasia monesi, IntroductionView the Source
Pied stilt (Wikipedia)
Home To: Pied Stilt, Distribution and habitat
Quote, Home To: Pied Stilt, Distribution and habitat
Its habitat is in wetlands and estuaries.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Cuban crocodile
Home To: Cuban Crocodile, Lead section
Quote, Home To: Cuban Crocodile, Lead section
Its preferred habitat comprises freshwater and brackish water environments, such as mangrove swamps, coastal lagoons, estuaries, marshes, floodplains, and river deltas.
View the Source
Common shelduck (Wikipedia)
Home To: Common shelduck, lead paragraph (habitat biome), EntityId 362721, target B268362
Quote, Home To: Common shelduck, lead paragraph (habitat biome), EntityId 362721, target B268362
It is widespread and common in the Palearctic, in Europe and northwest Africa mainly breeding on temperate coasts, saline pools and estuaries, and in Asia on inland salt lakes; increasingly it is also using open freshwat
View the Source
Wikipedia: Whiteleg shrimp
Home To: Whiteleg Shrimp, article text (habitat biome), EntityId 319063, target B268362
Quote, Home To: Whiteleg Shrimp, article text (habitat biome), EntityId 319063, target B268362
Litopenaeus vannamei grows to a maximum length of , with a carapace length of . Adults live in the ocean, at depths to , while juveniles live in estuaries.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Bald Eagle
WikipediaHome To: Bald Eagle, Habitat
Quote, Home To: Bald Eagle, Habitat
However, bald eagles will occasionally nest in large estuaries or secluded groves within major cities, such as Hardtack Island on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, or John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which are surrounded by a great quantity of human activity.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Mute Swan
WikipediaHome To: Mute Swan, Behaviour
Quote, Home To: Mute Swan, Behaviour
A notable flock of non-breeding birds is found on the River Tweed estuary at Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northeastern England, with a maximum count of 787 birds.
View the Source
Harbour porpoise, Wikipedia
Home To: Harbour Porpoise, Ecology
Quote, Home To: Harbour Porpoise, Ecology
They inhabit fjords, bays, estuaries and harbours, hence their name.
View the Source
Mozambique Tilapia (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHome To: Mozambique Tilapia, Distribution and habitat
Quote, Home To: Mozambique Tilapia, Distribution and habitat
Among others, it occurs in rivers, streams, canals, ponds, lakes, swamps and estuaries, although it typically avoids fast-flowing waters, waters at high altitudes and the open sea.
View the Source
Carcinus maenas (Wikipedia)
  • Home To: European Green Crab, Ecology
    Carcinus maenas can live in all types of protected and semiprotected marine and estuarine habitats, including those with mud, sand, or rock substrates, submerged aquatic vegetation, and emergent marsh, although soft bottoms are preferred.
  • Home To: Carcinus maenas, Ecology
    Carcinus maenas can live in all types of protected and semiprotected marine and estuarine habitats, including those with mud, sand, or rock substrates, submerged aquatic vegetation, and emergent marsh, although soft bottoms are preferred.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Pacific oyster
Home To: Pacific Oyster, Habitat
Quote, Home To: Pacific Oyster, Habitat
M. gigas is an estuarine species, but can also be found in intertidal and subtidal zones.
View the Source
Sea spider, Wikipedia
Home To: Sea Spider, Distribution and ecology
Quote, Home To: Sea Spider, Distribution and ecology
They are most common in shallow waters, but can be found as deep as 7,000 metres (23,000 ft), and live in both marine and estuarine habitats.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Dungeness crab
WikipediaHome To: Dungeness Crab, Threats
Quote, Home To: Dungeness Crab, Threats
In some areas adult Dungeness crabs can be found in or near estuaries.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Cuban tree frog
Home To: Cuban Tree Frog, Distribution
Quote, Home To: Cuban Tree Frog, Distribution
Cuban tree frogs are known to inhabit a variety of habitats, including estuaries, low-density suburban development, small towns, agricultural areas, particularly ones with exotic plants, and lowland forests and swamps.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Callinectes sapidus
WikipediaHome To: Callinectes Sapidus, Reproduction
Quote, Home To: Callinectes Sapidus, Reproduction
Prepubertal females migrate to the upper reaches of estuaries, where males typically reside as adults.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Aurelia aurita
WikipediaHome To: Aurelia Aurita, Reproduction and life history
Quote, Home To: Aurelia Aurita, Reproduction and life history
They can be found in estuaries, bays, fjords, and polluted waters, among other habitats.
View the Source
Wikipedia: Alitta virens
WikipediaHome To: Alitta Virens, Interactions with humans
Quote, Home To: Alitta Virens, Interactions with humans
Sandworms are also used as study organisms in investigations of metal uptake in marine biology, as their burrowing habits, preference for coastal and estuarine environments, and detritivorous diets expose them readily to metal buildup in marine sediments.
View the Source
Wikipedia: European Anchovy
WikipediaHome To: European Anchovy, Habitat and ecology
Quote, Home To: European Anchovy, Habitat and ecology
It can therefore live in brackish water in lagoons, estuaries, and lakes.
View the Source
Australian pied cormorant (Wikipedia)
Home To: Australian pied cormorant, Breeding
Quote, Home To: Australian pied cormorant, Breeding
The pied cormorant preferably breeds in small (<30 pairs) sheltered colonies (harbours, estuaries and lakes) with rarer occurrences on exposed coasts or islands, no more than 400 m (1,300 ft) from the sea (or food source).
View the Source
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Wikipedia)
Home To: Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Taiwanese humpback dolphin
Quote, Home To: Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Taiwanese humpback dolphin
Since the Eastern Taiwan Strait population of humpback dolphins is closely associated with estuaries habitat, the elimination of freshwater discharge from rivers significantly decreases the amount of suitable habitats for dolphins.
View the Source
Eurasian oystercatcher (Wikipedia)
Home To: Eurasian oystercatcher, Distribution and migration
Quote, Home To: Eurasian oystercatcher, Distribution and migration
Although the species is present all year in Ireland, Great Britain and the adjacent European coasts, there is still migratory movement; the large flocks that are found in the estuaries of south-west England in winter mainly breed in northern England or Scotland.
View the Source
Black-faced cormorant (Wikipedia)
Home To: Black-faced cormorant, Habitat
Quote, Home To: Black-faced cormorant, Habitat
Occasionally black-faced cormorants can be found in estuaries of rivers.
View the Source
Pied avocet (Wikipedia)
Home To: Pied avocet, Habitats
Quote, Home To: Pied avocet, Habitats
The EUNIS lists brackish and saline coastal lagoons and estuaries as key habitats.
View the Source
Vibrio vulnificus (Wikipedia)
Home To: Vibrio vulnificus, Growth and metabolism
Quote, Home To: Vibrio vulnificus, Growth and metabolism
V. vulnificus is usually found in brackish waters, like estuaries, where freshwater mixes with ocean saltwater.
View the Source
White-fronted Tern (Wikipedia)
Home To: White-fronted Tern, Habitat preferences
Quote, Home To: White-fronted Tern, Habitat preferences
With large flocks preferring coastal waters, harbours, bays and estuaries where they are content to live on either sand, shell or shingle ground.
View the Source
Crangon crangon (Wikipedia)
  • Home To: Brown Shrimp, habitat statement
    Adults live epibenthically (on or near the sea floor) especially in the shallow waters of estuaries or near the coast.
  • Home To: Crangon crangon, Habitat: Estuary
    Adults live epibenthically (on or near the sea floor) especially in the shallow waters of estuaries or near the coast.
View the Source
NatureServe Explorer: Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
NatureServe ExplorerHome To: Pink Salmon, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
Quote, Home To: Pink Salmon, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
"estuarineHabitatDescEn": "River mouth/tidal river"
View the Source
NatureServe Explorer: Chroicocephalus ridibundus
NatureServe ExplorerHome To: Black-headed gull, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
Quote, Home To: Black-headed gull, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
"estuarineHabitatDescEn": "River mouth/tidal river"
View the Source
NatureServe Explorer: Thalasseus maximus
NatureServe ExplorerHome To: Royal tern, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
Quote, Home To: Royal tern, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
"estuarineHabitatDescEn": "River mouth/tidal river"
View the Source
NatureServe Explorer: Sternula antillarum
NatureServe ExplorerHome To: Least tern, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
Quote, Home To: Least tern, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
"estuarineHabitatDescEn": "River mouth/tidal river"
View the Source
NatureServe Explorer: Egretta thula
NatureServe ExplorerHome To: Snowy Egret, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
Quote, Home To: Snowy Egret, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
"estuarineHabitatDescEn": "River mouth/tidal river"
View the Source
NatureServe Explorer: Larus fuscus
NatureServe ExplorerHome To: Lesser black-backed gull, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
Quote, Home To: Lesser black-backed gull, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
"estuarineHabitatDescEn": "River mouth/tidal river"
View the Source
NatureServe Explorer: Larus hyperboreus
NatureServe ExplorerHome To: Glaucous Gull, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
Quote, Home To: Glaucous Gull, Species characteristics: River mouth/tidal river
"estuarineHabitatDescEn": "River mouth/tidal river"
View the Source
Anomia simplex (Wikipedia)
Home To: Common Jingle Shell, Habitat: Estuary
Quote, Home To: Common Jingle Shell, Habitat: Estuary
Anomia simplex can be found in shallow waters, typically estuaries, mainly along the Atlantic Coast of North America
View the Source
SeaLifeBase: Lunarca ovalis summary
SeaLifeBaseHome To: Blood Ark, Biology
Quote, Home To: Blood Ark, Biology
Found in an estuarine environment (Ref. 104365 ).
View the Source
SeaLifeBase: Rhizostoma pulmo summary
SeaLifeBaseHome To: Barrel Jellyfish, Biology
Quote, Home To: Barrel Jellyfish, Biology
Found in a river estuary (Ref. 122860 ) and coastal lagoons (Refs. 81044 , 122857 ).
View the Source
GBIF: Vittina natalensis
GBIFHome To: Zebra Nerite Snail, Descriptions: habitat
Quote, Home To: Zebra Nerite Snail, Descriptions: habitat
Brackish: in small streams, near the mouth, on and under stones, often in mud.
View the Source

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