Seemingly mere expanses of inaccessible mud, they lack the immediate appeal of gorgeous coral reefs or stately primeval forests. Nonetheless, they rival these ecosystems in biodiversity and often exceed them in productivity. These amazing birds travel up to 12,500 miles each way on their annual migrations.
Tidal flats form in quiet inner bays at the mouths of rich deltas.
Washed by the tides, and with abundant sunlight, oxygen, and nutrients, tidal flats also support the eggs and juveniles of deeper-sea dwelling creatures. Many, such as the fugu, a toxic blowfish popular among intrepid Japanese gourmets, are of commercial importance. Tidal flat wetlands occur in an arc from Japan to the Korean west coast and the great river deltas on the Chinese mainland. These wetlands form a vital stage along the route of migratory shorebirds on the East Asia-Australasia Flyway, from Australia and New Zealand to East Siberia and Alaska. Government public works development is damaging the wetlands that form the narrowest link in this chain not only in Japan, but in Korea.