What I Have Learned Lesson 1- Activity 4: Fill Me In Direction: Explain how abiotic factors affect the intertidal zones and estuaries by filling in the blank with a correct word to complete the paragraph. An _ is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. Salty ocean water mixes with a freshwater river, resulting in , which is a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salty seawater. They are important because they sediments and pollutants before the freshwater from the river enters the sea or oceans. Intertidal zones on the other hand, serve as home to many kinds of birds. They are also known as foreshore or __ There are abiotic factors that affects the ecosystem in a certain place. These are waves, salinity, soil and temperature. They are important in any ecosystem because they help plants to grow and animals to thrive.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Filled-in paragraph:
An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. Salty ocean water mixes with a freshwater river, resulting in brackish water, which is a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salty seawater. They are important because they filter sediments and pollutants before the freshwater from the river enters the sea or oceans. Intertidal zones, on the other hand, serve as home to many kinds of birds. They are also known as foreshore or littoral zones. There are abiotic factors that affect the ecosystem in a certain place. These are waves, salinity, soil, and temperature. They are important in any ecosystem because they help plants to grow and animals to thrive.
explanation:
Abiotic factors are the non-living physical and chemical elements in an environment that influence the living organisms within it. In coastal ecosystems such as estuaries and intertidal zones, abiotic factors play crucial roles in shaping the habitat and determining what kinds of plants and animals can survive there.
An estuary is a unique ecosystem where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with salty ocean water. This mixing creates brackish water, which has a salinity level between that of freshwater and seawater. This blending zone creates a dynamic and nutrient-rich environment supporting diverse life forms. Estuaries act as natural filters because they trap sediments, excess nutrients, and pollutants carried by rivers, preventing them from reaching the open ocean. This filtration helps maintain water quality and protects marine habitats.
Intertidal zones, also called littoral zones or foreshores, are areas between high and low tide marks. These zones are regularly submerged and exposed due to tides, which means organisms living here must adapt to changing conditions such as wave action, salinity fluctuations, and temperature variations. Abiotic factors like waves influence the distribution of organisms by affecting oxygen availability and food supply. Salinity levels vary because of freshwater runoff and evaporation, impacting species survival. Soil or sediment type affects burrowing organisms and plants that stabilize the coastline. Temperature changes affect metabolic rates and reproductive cycles of organisms.
Overall, abiotic factors such as salinity, waves, soil type, and temperature are essential for ecosystem function in estuaries and intertidal zones. They create a challenging but rich environment where specialized plants and animals thrive, supporting biodiversity and providing critical ecological services like water filtration, nursery grounds for fish, and habitat for birds. Understanding how these abiotic factors interact helps us protect and manage these valuable coastal ecosystems.
