Bay Biology - general info

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Perhaps the most valuable function of the Chesapeake Bay region is its role as a habitat for living organisms. The Bay and its surrounding watershed provide ideal habitat for many plant and animal species. Some of the better known inhabitants of the Bay include blue crabs, oysters, and striped bass. However the Bay also is home to many other species including several types of shark, shrimp, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, submerged aquatic vegetation and much more.





Invasive Species - Some plants and animals that currently live in the Bay haven't always been part of the Bay's balanced ecosystem. They were either brought here for a specific economic or aesthetic purpose, entered the Bay in the ballast waters of ships or via storms or other accidental releases. These plants and animals are, by definition, living and reproducing outside their historic or native range. We call species that are not native to their current habitat, "exotic." Exotic species become "invasive" when they negatively affect the native ecosystem and native species by encroaching on habitat and food sources. (learn more)

	Crabs & Shellfish: Blue Crab \| American Oyster \| Horseshoe Crab \| Hard Clam \| Fiddler Crab \| Grass Shrimp \| Mantis Shrimp \| Atlantic Oyster Drill \| Non-native Oysters \| Comprehensive Oyster Management Plan \| Hermit Crabs \| Skeleton Shrimp \| Black-Fingered Mud Crab \| Seaslugs and nudibranchs
	Bay Grasses (SAV): Overview \| Ecological Role of SAV \| SAV Species and Distribution \| SAV Decline \| SAV as Habitat \| SAV Habitat Requirements \| Restoration of Chesapeake Bay Grasses \| Sea Lettuce
	Lower Food Web: Plankton \| Benthos \| Shipworm \| Bristle Worm \| Jellyfish \| Red Beard Sponge \| Sea Squirt \| Comb Jellies \| Ghost Anemone
	Birds: Bald Eagle \| Bufflehead \| Osprey \| Waterfowl \| Great Blue Heron \| Eastern Screech-Owl \| Gulls \| Ruddy Duck \| Carolina Chickadee \| Ruddy Turnstone \| American Oystercatcher \| Northern Cardinal \| Mallard

	Mammals: Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin \| White-Tailed Deer \| Bobcat \| Chesapeake Bay Retriever \| River Otter \| Marsh Rabbit \| Muskrat \| Red Fox
	Reptiles & Amphibians: Sea Turtles \| Copperhead \| Eastern Box Turtle \| Diamondback Terrapin \| Snapping Turtle \| Green Frog \| Eastern Painted Turtle
	Invasive Species: Veined Rapa Whelk \| Mute Swan \| Nutria \| Phragmites \| Purple Loosestrife \| Water Chestnut \| Zebra Mussel
	Other Plants & Animals: luna moth \| Swallowtail \| Saltmeadow cordgrass \| Smooth cordgrass \| Bald cypress \| Loblolly pine \| Saltmarsh mosquito \| American Holly \| Common Seastar \| Cicada \| Sea Cucumber \| Arrow Arum \| Marsh Hibiscus \| Brief Squid \| Atlantic White Cedar

Blue Crab Life Cycle: Learn about the different stages of development of the blue crab

Common Underwater Bay Grasses: At least 16 species of Bay grasses, also known as submerged aquatic vegetation or SAV, occur in shallow waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Chesapeake Bay Basin Species List : a comprehensive list of recognized species found in the Chesapeake Bay Region. The list covers a wide range of organisms from phytoplankton to waterfowl.

Animal Classification: See the scientific classification scheme for animals.

Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem: The physical processes that drive the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem sustain the many habitats and organisms found there. Complex relationships exist among the living resources of the Bay watershed. Even the smallest of creatures plays a vital role in the overall health and production of the Bay. Forests and wetlands around the Bay and the entire watershed filter sediments and pollutants while supporting birds, mammals, and fish. (learn more)

Other Sites of Interest:

Virginia Naturally: Learn about the Virginia environment
Maryland DNR Chesapeake Bay: Good resource for Bay grasses in Maryland
Alien Ocean: Maryland Sea Grant looks at exotic species
Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter: Field guide to birds of the Patuxent

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For more information, contact the Chesapeake Bay Program Office:
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109, Annapolis, MD 21403 / Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY / Fax: (410) 267-5777.