Answer:

1. An estuary is where a river meets the sea. Estuaries are transition zones from fresh

water to salt water. Nutrients from the mixture of fresh and salt water, abundant sunlight,

and shallow depths make estuaries very productive ecosystems. Estuaries are made up of many different types of habitats-oyster reefs, coral reefs,

rocky shores, marshes, and mangroves. There are different animals that live in each of

these different habitats. Fish, shellfish, and migratory birds are just a few of the animals

that can live in an estuary.

2. Intertidal zone is the area where ocean tides cover and uncover in a regular cycle.

Sometimes it is under water. Other times it is exposed to the Sun and air. It is underwater

at high tide and above the water at low tide. When the tide is low, the living things there

can be exposed to warmer temperatures and brighter light. At high tide, they can be

pounded by waves.

3. Why need to protect intertidal zones

Human activities disrupt the balance of the intertidal zone and can have long-term

adverse effects. Oil spill, for example, has toxic effect and lowers the fitness of local

organisms to survive and reproduce.

We need to conserve and protect for a number of important reasons.

- Animals and plants in intertidal zone are important food source for humans.

Humans harvest clams, oysters, mussels, and crabs for food.

- The intertidal zone serves as a buffer. It protects land from erosion by wave action

during storms. This protection is important for buildings, roads, bridges and other

infrastructure built along shorelines

- Animals such as bears, wolves, raccoons, mink, otter, and deer forage for different

marine life during low tide.

- During low tide, migrating and residents and many fishes on the shore birds feed

on the zone.

THATS ALL I KNOW