General Ecology
Specific Ecosystems
Willapa Bay Estuary
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An estuary is a unique ecosystem where the fresh water runoff meets the salt water of the ocean. These areas are considered to be of extreme importance to the earth as a whole, since an untended estuary produces from four to ten times the weight of organic matter produced by a cultivated corn field of the same size (estuary net). Additionally estuaries contain habitat for thousands of birds, fish and other animals, which often use the estuary as a breeding ground and place to rear their young, along with the contribution of organic material and habitat. Estuaries provide flood control form high seas and filters water form rivers as it meet the oceans. |
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The diverse number of species and overall productivity of the world's estuaries is due to the fact that they have a large available nutrient supply that is consumed by the phytoplankton a group of single celled algae which are the foundation to the food web. The phytoplankton is consumed by many different primary consumers, which provide energy to the other animals in an estuary. Although phytoplankton are the major organism which harnesses the energy form the sun and converts it into a usable source for the primary consumers, most estuaries do contain a diverse population of plants which provide shelter and food for animals and prevent erosion of the estuary. As one can see Estuaries are very important to the overall health of the ocean and economy in many regions. |
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The Willapa bay is a costal plain estuary, which is relatively pristine and conceded to be one of the cleanest estuaries in the world is located in southwest Washington State along the pacific coast. This pristine estuary, is home to a variety of plants an animals which all have complex relationships with one another, the estuary is able to support clams, crabs, oysters, fish and other marine organisms. The Willapa bay national wildlife refuge was established in 1937 to protect migrating populations of black brant, a sea goose that migrates from Alaska and other waterfowl. It was recognized early on that it would be essential to protect the Willapa bay, since it is of vital importance to a variety of animals that reside or visit, the salt marshes, dunes and coniferous forests all which provide distinct habitat for a variety of animals. With approximately 250 birds, 53 mammals and 19 reptiles being recorded by the fish and wildlife service within their monitoring area. |
