Pamlico Sound Estuary
By: Harris Barr
Location
Importance of Estuaries
Estuaries are habitats for many marine species. They have been called the nurseries of the sea because they provide protection, an abundance of food, and a wanted and perfect place to live and reproduce. Also, birds depend on estuaries for food and a place to nest. Migratory birds use estuaries for places to make a stop to eat and rest.
Estuaries benefit the health of the oceans and estuaries help filter sediments and pollutants from the water before it flows into the ocean. All of the extra nutrients are removed and this results in cleaner water for people and the marine organisms.
Estuaries are like buffers between the land and the ocean. They are important because they lower the effects of storm surges and flooding.
Estuaries are economically important because of the fishing, tourism, recreation, and resort development in the Estuaries.
Animals found in the Pamlico Sound Estuary
River Basins that feed into the Pamlico Sound
The Threats to the North Carolina Estuaries
Some threats to the North Carolina estuaries are excessive nutrients, toxic materials, erosion and sedimentation, and habitat loss.
Cites
- www.outerbanks.com/pamlico-sound.html
- omp.gso.uri.edu/ompweb/doee/science/descript/whats.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamlico_Sound
- http://omp.gso.uri.edu/ompweb/doee/science/descript/albpam.htm
- http://www.fws.gov/nc-es/edout/albewhatwrong.html
- http://www.neuseriver.org/abouttheneuse/mapofneuseriverbasin.html
- http://www.mbgnet.net/salt/sandy/estuaries.htm