Karianne Lopez
EAS 390E
Ch.5
2/19/08
Biomes and Biodiversity
Why are coral reefs, mangroves, estuaries, and wetlands biologically important?
Coral reefs “are limestone formations produced by living organisms, found in shallow,
tropical marine waters” (Yahoo! Dictionary). Conservation of coral reefs.
*Coral bleaching refers to the loss of color of corals due to stress.
*Sea-grass beds “is a flowering plant from one of four plant families that grows in the
marine saline environment” (Wiki).
are a group of salt-tolerant trees that grow along marine coasts around the
world. Many mangrove links.
Mangroves
Estuaries are bays where the rivers empty into the ocean mixing fresh water with salt
water. Restoring estuaries.
*Salt marshes “are coastal wetlands rich in marine life. They are sometimes called tidal
marshes, because they occur in the zone between low and high tides” (Florida
D.V.P.).
*Tide pools are rocky pools by oceans that are filled with seawater (Wiki).
Wetlands are “low-lying ecosystem where the water table is always at or near the surface”
(Yahoo! Education). More information. Reserve Program.
*Swamps are “a wetland that features temporary or permanent inundation of large
areas of land by shallow bodies of water, generally with a substantial number of
hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, and covered by aquatic vegetation, or
vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation” (Wiki).
*Marshes “are type of wetland which is subject to frequent or continuous inundation”.
*Bogs are “a wetland type that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant
material.”
Why are coral reefs, mangroves, estuaries, and wetlands biologically important?
*Fens “also known as the Fenland, consists of an area of former wetlands in the eastern
part of England, stretching around the coast of The Wash and reaching into the
historic counties of Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk,
Northamptonshire and Suffolk.”
Lesson Plans and Activities
Grade 9-12
K-12
Various links to Wetland Resources, lesson plans, and activities for kids.