What is an estuary?

• It is where freshwater from a river meets saltwater from the ocean
• Many different shapes and sizes
• Include beaches, bays, marshes, mangroves, tidal flats, sounds, lagoons, sloughs
• Rich in nutrients, abounding with plant and animal life

Why are estuaries important to me in Florida?

• Nursery grounds for two-thirds of the fish and shellfish we eat
• Filter pollutants, helping to improve water quality
• Offer many recreational opportunities: fishing, boating, swimming, etc.
• Provide essential habitat for birds, fish, and other animals, many of which are endangered or threatened species in Florida
• Sites of ports, marinas, and commercial shipping activities

What are the biggest threats to Florida’s estuaries?

• Habitat loss
• Pollution

What can we do to protect our estuaries?

• Learn more about them
• Contact your local National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) located in Apalachicola, go to their visitor’s center
• Volunteer for community projects such as beach cleanups
• Reduce the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and other toxins in your home
• Use chemicals responsibly, dispose of them properly, never use storm drains for disposal
• Recycle at home and at work
• If you have a septic system, keep it in good working order
• If you have a boat, use a marine sanitation device or pump out station

Download our poster for additional Estuaries information
Download our PowerPoint presentation on Saltmarshes

Microbes That Regenerate Nutrients in Coastal Marine Sands

Microbes are the “hidden heroes” of coastal marine ecosystems because they break down or degrade dead plant and animal bodies, thereby releasing nutrients to be reused by plants. When microbes on the sea bottom regenerate nutrients to be used as food for phytoplankton, scientists call this “benthic-pelagic coupling.”  In the past, it was thought that because muddy sediments on the bottom of the ocean contain a lot of organic matter, these parts of the seafloor were the most important to benthic-pelagic coupling.  However, recently, scientists have found evidence that sandy sediments are just as important or perhaps more important than mud.  Therefore, we are studying the microbiology of marine sands for their role in replenishing nutrients for phytoplankton.  In a NSF project with Dr. Markus Huettel, the Kostka laboratory is investigating the concept that coastal marine sands act as giant filters, filtering out dead plant or animal bodies, and releasing inorganic nutrients to be used as food for plants.  Our research closely couples chemistry and microbiology to determine what controls nutrient release from the sandy seafloor at two contrasting sites near St. George Island, Florida.  One site represents conditions found in Apalachicola Bay, while the other is more typical of conditions found in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.  We have determined how fast organic matter is processed by microbial activities in the giant filter using radiotracers and flux chambers.  Using the latest genetic methods, we have documented “who’s there” or which microbe groups are present to degrade organic matter in the sands.  By combining our estimates of microbial activity along with genetic identification of microbe groups, we will find out how the giant filter works in the Bay vs. the Gulf.