Estuarine Ecosystem: An Overview

  • Abhijit Mitra
  • Sufia Zaman
Chapter
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Abstract

Estuaries are unique spots on our planet, which are situated and sandwiched between the continents and the seas. Penetrated by the sea through the recurring tides and flushed by the freshwater outflows of the lotic system, an estuary is a dynamic system where the freshwater meets seawater. Blessed by the fertile flows of both the seas and the rivers; these fascinating biotopes are by far the most productive ecosystem on our planet; the abode of unique species of plants and animals; the cradle of several species of finfish; the nursery of commercially important shellfish; the reservoir of food, chemicals, mineral, oils and natural gas; and the ideal spots for tourism and aquaculture.

Keywords

Ecosystem Service Soil Organic Carbon Estuarine System Freshwater Discharge Oyster Reef 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Supplementary material

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Copyright information

© Springer India 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • Abhijit Mitra
    • 1
  • Sufia Zaman
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Marine ScienceUniversity of CalcuttaKolkataIndia
  2. 2.Department of OceanographyTechno India UniversityKolkataIndia

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