Human Disturbance:
Because estuaries are the piece of land located between two bodies of water, it is vulnerable to the impact of humans. The greatest impact to estuaries from humans is draining, filling, damming, and dredging of the estuaries. This has caused the loss and destruction of estuary habitats. In North-America, the drained and refilled estuaries have been turned into agricultural areas and some were turned into shipping ports. According NOAA, 38% of the United States’ estuaries have been lost of the causes listed above. Regarding the other estuaries around the world, pollution is the main cause of harm and damage. Estuaries have become a place to dump unwanted chemicals and bi-products that we use. Finally, the last and least discussed human disturbance is the introduction of non-native or invasive species into the estuarine environment, which changes the already existing habitat, plant, and animal system.
Because estuaries are the piece of land located between two bodies of water, it is vulnerable to the impact of humans. The greatest impact to estuaries from humans is draining, filling, damming, and dredging of the estuaries. This has caused the loss and destruction of estuary habitats. In North-America, the drained and refilled estuaries have been turned into agricultural areas and some were turned into shipping ports. According NOAA, 38% of the United States’ estuaries have been lost of the causes listed above. Regarding the other estuaries around the world, pollution is the main cause of harm and damage. Estuaries have become a place to dump unwanted chemicals and bi-products that we use. Finally, the last and least discussed human disturbance is the introduction of non-native or invasive species into the estuarine environment, which changes the already existing habitat, plant, and animal system.