Where Life Thrives: The World’s Most Bio-Productive Ecosystems
By Capt. Olivia Biological productivity looks at how much biomass is being produced in a given area. Ecosystems with high bio-productivity appear as lush, thriving environments jam-packed with plants and animals. There are multiple ways to measure bio-productivity, which alter rankings slightly, but tropical rainforests, estuaries (including salt marshes), and swamps consistently rank among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. Tropical Rainforests Tropical rainforests (e.g. the Amazon) thrive due to consistent, year-round sunlight, heat, and rainfall. These conditions allow life to thrive, and decomposition to happen fast, so that nutrients are rapidly recycled within the system. Because of this they are home to the highest terrestrial biodiversity on the planet, and contribute a massive amount of carbon sequestration, which helps mitigate global climate change. Estuaries Estuaries are semi-enclosed areas where salt water from the ocean and fresh water from…
What is an Estuary?
By Capt. Weatherly What is an estuary? This is one of my favorite questions to hear on the boat, and what started me down the path of ecotourism in the Charleston area. At its most basic, an estuary is an area where freshwater rivers meet the ocean, resulting in fresh/salt water mixing. There are four…