"An estuary is where fresh water meets salt water — and that mixing creates one of the most productive environments on Earth. Not all estuaries are the same, though. Some have a few species; some have thousands. The Indian River Lagoon has more species than almost any other estuary in North America. Why? That's the story of this lesson."
What Makes an Estuary Biodiverse?
An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of water where fresh water from rivers and streams meets and mixes with salt water from the ocean. Estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth — more productive per square mile than the best agricultural land. They support dense populations of fish, shellfish, birds, and other wildlife. But not all estuaries are equally diverse. Some estuaries, like those in cold northern climates with low salinity variability, support relatively few species. Others, particularly in subtropical and tropical regions, support enormous numbers of species. The Indian River Lagoon, located on Florida's Atlantic coast, is one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America — it supports over 4,000 species of plants and animals, more than any other estuary on the continent. Understanding why the lagoon is so diverse means understanding the unique combination of geography, climate, and habitat that makes it special.
