Lagoons and estuaries

Book excerpt: Coastal lagoons and estuaries, lying at the boundary between ocean and land, house a unique mosaic of habitats, giving rise to high species diversity and the creation of ecotones. They are also ecologically and economically important ecosystems that provide many ecosystem services. Yet, these coastal ecosystems are facing a gamut of human-induced threats. This booklet is the fourth in the Coastal Ecosystems Series, published in an attempt to address the lack of information available to the general public regarding the threats to coastal ecosystems.