Question

What human caused factors threaten Estuaries

1. Are there areas for the conservational concern?

2. What is being done to help protect them?

3. What benefits (if any) does your biome/ecosystem provide humanity?

4. Why should we conserve it?

Answer 1

What human caused factors threaten Estuaries:

The health of our estuaries is threatened by coastal development, declining water quality and loss of habitat for native species. Estuaries are impacted by pressures from human activities as well as natural events such as storms and floods.

Oil spills – accidental oil spills from ships at sea

Excessive harvesting

Excessive removal of these species threatens the ecosystem.

Invasion by introduced species

Reclaiming land by drainage – for marinas, farms, subdivisions and industrial development.

Building bridges – this restricts inner estuary tidal flows.

Extracting sand

Rubbish dumping.

Aquaculture – farming monocultures can upset the balance of an ecosystem, causing its degradation.

areas for the conservational concern:

Necanicum River, Netarts Bay, Nestucca River, Siletz Bay, Alsea Bay and Winchuck River. Shallow draft estuaries include Nehalem Bay, Tillamook Bay, Depoe Bay, Siuslaw River, Umpqua River, Coquille River, Rouge River, and Chetco River

Protection:

Plant trees

Fence off stock

Improve catchment

Restrict fishing activities

Respect marine reserves

Biosecurity checks on ships

Stop reclaiming land

Limit pollution:

Report threats to estuaries

Benefits and why should we conserve it

Wetlands and marshes:Benefit to human diversity is Marches and wetlands are places where fish spawn, birds lay eggs, and insect populations thrive. Mangroves are filled with native trees, grasses, and brackish water filled with nutrients where animals can thrive

Taiga/Boreal Forest:The trees of the taiga ecosystems include spruce, pine, cedar, and fir; they provide food for other organisms in the ecosystem in addition to protection, shelter, and breeding grounds for bird species. The trees also provide habitat and food for wildlife, gounded in the old-growth trees. Humans benefit from this wildlife as they can harvest its resources

Rainforest:most notable for the hundreds of prescription medications they provide through their rich plant life. One fourth of cancer fighting drugs are made from ingredients found in rainforests around the world.The plants solely in the Amazon rainforest produce more than 20 percent of the world's oxygen. The rainforest contains over 3.000 varieties of fruit as well as a multitude of spices. We obtain many natural resources from the rainforest including fuel and rubber. They are also immense freshwater reservoirs