A unique facet to the Long Island Sound is its lack of a major source of fresh water at its head. This fact makes it unlike a typical estuary. The water make up consists of different components. The lower salinity waters flow from the Upper Bay of New York Harbor through the East River and Harlem River tidal straights and enter the western part of the Sound. Past the race and Block Island, the higher salinity waters enter the eastern part of the Sound from the Atlantic. The Connecticut River provides the Sound with its largest source of fresh water. This mixing of fresh and saltwater creates very complex currents. The distribution of sediments thus becomes very complicated.
One must understand the behavior of currents in an estuary to comprehend the sediment distribution. The currents are created by
tides
, endless series of waves. The tides are created by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.
The Long Island Sound is a productive ecosystem with a wealth of aquatic organisms and wildlife inhabiting it. The significant ecological components of the Sound are its diverse and unique habitats. These habitats include such places as beaches, bluffs, coves, dunes, embayments, headlands, tidal wetlands and flats, rocky intertidal areas, submerged aquatic vegetation (eel grass and kelp), artificial and natural reefs, and the sediment floor. These habitats provide the services of feeding, nesting, nursing, and shelter for the many organisms that inhabit the Sounds waters. Each of the habitats supports the organisms within it, while contributing to the overall productivity of the ecosystem known as the Sound.
At this point there are various activities you may choose to do:
You can watch the video
Seashore
that is put out by Eyewitness. This video can be found in most local libraries. It will give the students a visual aid to understand the wildlife, organisms, and habitats of seashores. Although it is not directly about the Long Island Sound, it can grant the students some prior knowledge before an actual trip to a seashore.
Take a trip to a beach. In New Haven, Lighthouse Point is an ideal area. You may have the students record observations and collect samples from their trip.
Take a trip to the Peabody Museum or a museum of the same nature. Many of the exhibits will be of value. Look especially on the third floor.