Marine Ecology: It's Closer Than You Think By: Anna-Lisa Bailey May 22, 2010 SPED 6402Marine Ecology: It's Closer Than You Think Tages from: http//wna anrep sng rdeeht Including: Estuary Background Role of Estuaries Watershed and Water Quality Turbidity, Temperature, Tides, Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen, and Nutrients Animal and Plant life Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary Polluting and Protecting By: Anna-Lisa Bailey May 22, 2010 SPED 6402Research Paper North Carolina has one of the largest estuaries in the country in the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary. The estuary is influenced by a number of factors both natural and human. Even though the estuary is capable of adapting to its constantly changing parameters, it can also be compromised if the change becomes too great in any one diection. Fortunately, there are steps that we can take both at home and at the estuary to further protect and preserve this marine ‘ecosystem to insure the health of our coast Marine ecology is the scientific study of living organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water (Wikipedia, 2008). These bodies of water have been deemed marine ecosystems due to the presence of dissolved compounds, particularly salts (EPA, 2007), Examples of marine ecosystems include oceans, estuaries, =: coral reefs (EPA, 2007). These marine areas require sunlight and nutrients in order to support marine life (EPA, 2007). Plants in these areas need sunlight for photosynthesis Joy wil! nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Silicon to produce food and grow (EPA, 2007). The ‘109 productivity can vary from each marine location depending on the presence of sunlight and nutrients. For example, in the open ‘ocean, nutrient levels are often very poor causing primary production to be very low (EPA, 2007). In contrast, near shore waters such as estuaries and marshes are often rich in nutrients, allowing primary production to be very high (EPA. 2007). However, if nutrient levels are too elevated, it can lead to the depletion of