Chesapeake Bay Research

By: Tiffany Nguyen

Why is it important to have a variety of animals in the bay?

The oysters help to filter the bay. The herring gulls help to keep the bay clean. The widgeon grass help to keep the bay animals alive. My research will show that oysters, herring gulls, and widgeon grass is important to the bay.

Oysters

Oysters live in the Aquatic Reefs. Depending on the surface they have different textures. Sea anemone, sea stars, sea nettles, oyster drills, birds, and crabs eat oysters. Depending on the surface they have different textures. Oysters eat plankton, bacteria, and decaying plants. They also filter water.

Picture sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crassostrea_gigas_p1040847.jpg

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/oyster/?source=A-to-Z#close-modal

Herring gulls

Herring gulls can live up to 30 years. Herring gulls eat almost everything. They can eat garbage, living, and dead animals. Other birds sometimes steal herring gulls’ eggs. Most herring gulls are very aggressive. You can find them in many places.

Picture sources: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/herring_gull/id

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Herring_Gull

Widgeon grass

Widgeon grass has high nutritional value. Ducks, geese, and the widgeon eats it. Widgeon grass reduces erosion, and makes oxygen. Most common bay grass lives on shallow waters. Helps keep the water clear. It grows in two forms: Umbrella with leaves or leaves that come up with no stem showing.

Picture source: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/critter/widgeon_grass

Conclusion

In conclusion I learned that all Chesapeake Bay animals are important to the bay. Also I learned that each animal has it’s own different features.

Bibliography

Bay101http://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/bay101

Bayvillehttp://bayville.thinkport.org/default_flash.aspx

Aquaplanthttp://aquaplant.tamu.edu/

National Geographic http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

ACE basinhttps://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/specgal/widgrass.htm