Department of Education

Region IV- A CALABARZON

Division of Laguna
District of Pila
PILA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Protecting And
Conserving Our
Intertidal Zones And
Estuaries

Krystel Bautista

Grade V-Gomburza

Mrs. Micaela Quidayan

Tasks: how to protect and conserve estuaries and intertidal

zones
 Table of contents
Guide 1-3
Activity
Answer key
Assessment
enrichment

Guide 1
Intertidal Zone
The intertidal zone is an ecosystem found on marine shorelines, where a multitude of organisms living on the
shore survive changes between high and low tides.
 The intertidal zone is an extreme ecosystem because it constantly experiences dra
changes. It is located on marine coastlines, including rocky shores and sandy beaches.
intertidal zone experiences two different states: one at low tide when it is exposed to the
and the other at high tide when it is submerged in seawater. The zone is completely submer
by the tide once or twice every day. This ecosystem is rife with research opportunities
marine researchers like National Geographic grantee Swapnale Gole, who studies the behavio
sea anemones, crustaceans, and fish in the intertidal zones of the Andaman Islands in In
Organisms that live in the intertidal zone tend to form their own communities across
zone’s elevation gradient. Some species live further up the shore and closer to the high tide l
while others live further down the shore, closer the low tide line. Anything living in the intert
zone must be able to survive changes in moisture, temperature, and salinity and withstand str
waves. Intertidal zones of rocky shorelines host sea stars, snails, seaweed, algae, and cr
Barnacles, mussels, and kelps can survive in this environment by anchoring themselves to
rocks. Barnacles and mussels can also hold seawater in their closed shells to keep from dr
out during low tide. Intertidal zones richer in sediments are filled with different species
clams, sand dollars, and worms.

Guide 2
What You Can Do to Help Protect our
Coastal Watersheds and Estuaries
Here's what you can do to protect our coastal watersheds and estuaries, our pricele
resources:
GUIDE 3

What is an Estuary?

An estuary is a partially enclosed, coastal water body where freshwater fr

rivers and streams mixes with salt water
from the ocean. Estuaries, and their
surrounding lands, are places of transition
from land to sea. Although influenced by t
tides, they are protected from the full fo
of ocean waves, winds and storms by land
forms such as barrier islands or peninsula

Estuarine environments are among the mo

productive on earth, creating more organic matter each year than compara
sized areas of forest, grassland or agricultural land. The sheltered waters
estuaries also support unique communities of plants and animals specially
adapted for life at the margin of the sea.

Why are Estuaries Important?

Photo Credit: Casco Bay Estuary Partnership

Estuaries provide us with a suite of resources,

benefits and services. Some of these can be
measured in dollars and cents, while others cannot
Estuaries provide places for recreational activiti
scientific study and aesthetic enjoyment. Estuarie
are an irreplaceable natural resource that must
managed carefully for the mutual benefit of al
who enjoy and depend on them. Below are
additional ways in which estuaries are important .

ACTIVITY 1
Answer key to activity
1. B
2. E
3. A
4. B
5. d

Assessment:
Do your part to help protect and conserve our nation's estuaries:
At Home

 Keep septic systems working properly. Pump your system every thre
years. Leaking systems seep into estuaries and pollute them.
 Think before you pour something down the drain. Many hazardous
products flow from household drains through sewage treatment plan
and into coastal bodies of water.
 Pave Less. Hard surfaces speed up water runoff and increase pollutio
and erosion.

In Your Garden

 Avoid using toxic pesticides. Try using natural lawn and garden
treatments. Plain soap and water does the job and can keep harmful
chemicals from ending up in nearby waterways.
 Use native plants. Garden and landscape with plants native to your a
and reduce the need for watering and fertilizing.
 Collect rainwater. Reducing runoff is critical to minimize the impact
yards and gardens have on surrounding lakes and streams.

On the Water

 Adhere to "no-wake' zones when on your boat. Waves destroy

shorelines and increase erosion.
  Fish respectfully. Follow "catch and release" practices and keep mor
fish alive.
 Respect habitat. Treat the homes of vital marine life with care. Hea
habitat and survival go hand in hand. When habitat disappears so do
many plants and animals.

Anytime, Anywhere

 Take action and get involved! Volunteer at your nearest National

Estuarine Research Reserve. Organize a stream or beach cleanup.
Encourage your local newspaper to write a story, or ask an expert to
speak at your community organization or school.
 Take a few minutes to learn more about estuaries and perhaps visit y
nearest National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Enrichment: “The Human Game Board”

Objectives:
1. Participate in community efforts in protecting and conserving estuaries an
intertidal environment
2. Apply ways in protecting and conserving the water ecosystem

What you need:

Activity Sheet
Human size game board ( Snake and Ladder game) Human Dice
What to do:
1. Group the class into 4
2. Show to the class the human board
3. Listen very carefully as the teacher explain how to perform the a
4. Tell the pupils that today they will play the human game board.
5. Each group will choose explorer. The explorer is the one who wa
human board.
6. Each group will toss the human dice, after that the explorer will m
the number that corresponds in the dice.
7. First explorer to reach the finish line will be the winner.
Guide Questions:
1. How did you find the activity?
2. Is everybody participate in the activity? Why? Why not?
3. What are the possible problem of water ecosystem encountered
game?
4. What are the possible solutions indicated in the board game?
5. What did you learn from this activity?

Remember these:

 Estuaries serves as the breeding ground of organisms that play a vita

balance of nature.

 There are so many ways in protecting and conserving our estuaries but
and easiest way to conserve is to conserve water and plant
which does not require fertilizers.

 According to study the economy of many coastal areas is based primarily

natural beauty and bounty of estuaries. When those natural r
imperiled, so too are the livelihoods of those who live and wor
estuarine watersheds.

 The used of fertilizers, sewage from falling septic tanks, pet waste, wast
discharge from industrial facilities, sediment from constructi
the rapid increase in population are the main reasons that mak
system imbalance.

Remember these:

 Estuaries rank among the most productive ecosystems on earth, b

also subject to considerable ecological degradation associated
loss and alteration of habitats and impairment of water qualit
multiple anthropogenic and natural drivers of change
 Escalating population growth, urban and industrial development, m
of coastal watersheds and estuarine basins, pollution inputs, a
overharvest of recreational and commercial species can threa
system structure and function and the sustainability of the sy
resources.

 Putting coconut fiber mat, planting marsh grass, and mussels bed
trees, reducing sewage, are some activities that may help in t
preservation and conservation of our estuaries and intertidal