Estuary
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<speciesfyi-glossary slug="estuary"></speciesfyi-glossary>Definition
A partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean.
Detailed Explanation
Estuaries are among Earth's most productive ecosystems — their rich nutrient supply from rivers, combined with tidal mixing and shallow water, supports exceptional plant and animal growth. Seagrass beds, salt marshes, and mudflats within estuaries provide nursery habitat for roughly 75% of commercially important fish species. Urbanization, dredging, and pollution have degraded over half of the world's estuaries.