Habitats: Estuaries - Estuary Life
Estuaries are home to an astonishing variety of plants and animals and important in the lifecycles of many more. Crabs and clams of many species call these fresh and saltwater mixing zones home, each finding the salinity (saltiness) that suits them best.
Horseshoe Crab |
Filter feeders are found in all parts of the estuary. They are creatures that pull small bits of organic material, like plankton and larvae, from the water as it moves past them. Horseshoe crabs are one of the older inhabitants of coastal estuaries, living happily and largely unchanged for millions of years.
Boring Sponge |
Oysters blanket the estuary floors in areas where they use foot secretions to cement themselves to the substrate. Not only are these oysters a rich food source for us, but they are also important food sources to many estuarine creatures. Predatory snails, including Oyster Drills, whelks, sponges, especially the Boring Sponges, and fish all find oysters a tasty treat.
The Black Drum has jaws powerful enough to crush adult oyster shells.
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Leidy's Comb Jelly is a jellyfish that eats oyster larvae.
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