Spirit's aquatic environments are home to many species, marine and freshwater. Some of these environments are oceanic shallow water mud flats, estuaries, and rivers.
Oceanic shallow water mud flats are areas that are sheltered from harsh waves. Being closer to land, the waters are not very deep. Estuaries, though a challenging place to live, can be a particularly productive one. To survive, a species must adapt to the conditions met when freshwater meets saline waters. Often when the rivers flow to meet the oceans, the water brings an influx of nutrients along with it, making estuaries an attractive residence for plants, and consequently, animals that feed on plants. Rivers present moving currents and cold temperatures at high elevations.
Algae grow in abundance from simple unicellular species, much like Earth's plankton, to larger multicellular forms. These species serve as an important source of energy for the animal life. Even the decomposition of these plants can serve as food source.
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Page by Dorothy Yan