Excess nutrients may accelerate the growth of algae, resulting in an algal bloom. A partially enclosed body of water where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the sea. Eutrophication occurs naturally in many bodies of water, but can be accelerated by pollution.
Some exotic species establish and grow quickly, crowding out native species.
The sum of environmental conditions in a place where a plant or animal lives. A wetland where the dominant plants are grasses and sedges, as opposed to a swamp, where woody plant like shrubs and trees are the dominant vegetation. A marsh growing in the intertidal and upper coastal zone, where salt water from the sea has a strong influence on the types of plant life. Salt marshes are important wetland habitats for many kinds of fish and wildlife. Seagrass meadows provide food and refuge for many marine animals.