...Jamiu B Giwa-Otusajo BIOL 205 Lab 3 Dr. Erik Davenport THE CHESAPEAKE BAY ECOSYSTEM 1. The Chesapeake Bay is approximately 200 miles in length and it has a width which ranges from 3.4miles to 35miles. The Chesapeake Bay watershed has so much research done on it in order to figure out strategies to revive it. 2. The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership that leads and directs protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Although the Chesapeake program partners have mutual restorative objective, they tend to implement restorative actions based on their resources. Their restorative objective include but not limited to * Reducing Pollution * Restoring Habitats * Managing Fishery * Protecting Watershed * Fostering Stewardship 3. Point source nutrient loading is a form of pollution which can be easily regulated because the nutrients are known to originate from a specific location. However in a non-point source nutrient loading the nutrient’s origin is not easily identified, which makes this kind of nutrient loading difficult to contain. 4. The greatest contributor of nutrient loading in the bay is agricultural run-offs. 5. Eutrophication is the enrichment of the ecosystem with chemical substances such as nitrogen and/or phosphorous. It can also be said to be the ecosystem’s reaction to the introduction of natural and artificial substances into aquatic habitats. An excess amount of nutrient loading fuels...
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...There seems to be a plethora of human problems that are contributing to the problems that surround the Chesapeake Bay. The problems that humans are causing on the environment may or may not be able to be solved. Nevertheless, it is crucial that the human race attempts to do so. There happens to exist a plethora of ways that humans could restore balance to the bay again. human activity takes a toll on the environment, and there are in fact ways to help the bay be nursed back to health Another, perhaps less obvious way to solve this problem is to lower the amount of power plants are used. As stated in the articles above, power plants heat the water before it is re-entered into the bay, thus changing the chemistry. If the population there turns...
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...The Chesapeake Bay oyster wars were multiple wars between pirates and legal watermen and authorities during 1865 through 1959. Watermen from near and far would come to the Chesapeake Bay and sometimes even the Potomac River to harvest oysters. The oyster wars demonstrate exploration, encounter, and exchange in history. Exploration is demonstrated through the Chesapeake Bay oyster wars. Foreign watermen would travel far distances to come to the Chesapeake Bay to harvest oysters. Many did this because of restrictions in their harvesting areas, such as laws and/or the amount of oysters in their local oyster beds. “New England watermen encroached on the Bay after their local oyster beds had been exhausted… (1)” Oyster dredgers would clean out their local oyster beds and would search for places with a plethora of oysters so they can continue their business....
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...Slogan Maryland the great state where we fish with great bate. Our colony give you the free decision for your religion. We have chesapeake bay it’s a major trading post and we don’t even boast. This is our state, now let's celebrate! Location The state of Maryland is located on the east coast, between the states of Pennsylvania, delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia. Chesapeake Bay Maryland has a large selection of major job industries. Such as; shipping on Chesapeake bay, commercial fishing for Striped Bass, farming crops and animals, and lumber. The low, fertile land surrounding Chesapeake Bay is ideal for farming cattle, chickens and soybeans. Also, the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is one of the world’s largest shipping canals, it...
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...Chesapeake Bay Water Pollution and Restoration Mitigation Plan Emmett J. Nixon Axia College 2009 Chesapeake Bay Water Pollution and Restoration Mitigation Plan Detailed description of the problem: For over 300 years, the Chesapeake Bay water system has sustained the area’s economy and defined its traditions and culture (Chesapeake Bay Program Preamble, 2000). As the most biologically diverse estuary in the U.S., over 3600 species of fish, plants and animals make the Bay their home. Land uses in 1990 in the 166,000 square kilometer watershed are estimated to be 57% forest, 16% cropland, 8% pasture, 18% urban or developed land, and 1% of land in rivers and lakes (Chesapeake Bay Program, Linker, L.C., Shenk, G.W., Dennis, R.L., and Sweeney, J.S. (1999). Water pollution makes most people think of factories and industries dumping toxic chemicals and other contaminants into the Chesapeake Bay. In reality, the main pollutants are excess amounts of nitrogen, and phosphorous. These nutrients enter the Bay from a variety of sources and cause an explosion of algae growth and sediment. Airborne nitrogen reaches the land through air deposition and chemical contaminants. An overabundance of suspended sediment from erosion is the main factor for water stress and poor aquatic life in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Protection of its natural and man-made infrastructures is essential over the long-term as indicated in the illustration below...
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...During the 1600's, people in the American colonies lived in very distinctive societies. While some colonists led hard lives, others were healthy and prosperous. The two groups who showed these differences were the colonists of the New England and Chesapeake Bay areas. The differentiating characteristics among the Chesapeake and New England colonies developed due to economy, religion, and motives for colonial expansion. The colonists of the New England area possessed a very happy and healthy life. This high way of living was due in part to better farming, a healthier environment, and a high rate of production because of more factories. The colonists of the Chesapeake Bay region, on the other hand, led harder lives compared to that of the colonists of New England. The Chesapeake Bay had an unhealthy environment, bad eating diets, and intolerable labor. The colonists had different reasons for settling in these two distinct regions. The New England region was a more religiously strict yet diverse area compared to that of the Chesapeake Bay. The development of religion in the two regions came from separate roots. After Henry VIII and the Roman Catholic Church broke away from each other, a new group of English reformers was created called the Puritans. The Puritans came from protestant backgrounds, after being influenced by Calvinistic ideas. When their reforms were thwarted by King James I of England, they fled to the New World in what is now known as the "Great Migration". The Puritans...
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...Jug Bay Lab Intro The Jug Bay Watershed near the patuxent river wetlands. The area is a wildlife sanctuary for animal and wildlife preservation. The dominant forest type around Jug Bay is of deciduous forest. This province comprises the flat and irregular Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains down to the sea. Well over 50 percent of the area is gently sloping. The climate regime is equable, with a small to moderate annual temperature range. Average annual temperature is 60 to 70F. Rainfall is abundant and well distributed throughout the year; precipitation ranges from 40 to 60 in per year. Mild rainforest is run of the mill in this region. The broad beach front bogs and inside bogs are overwhelmed by gum and cypress. Soils are chiefly Ultisols, and Entisols. Estuaries are home to exceptional plant and creature groups that have adjusted to salty water. Container Bay backings and holds a wide assortment of untamed life and species. Container Bay is one of three locales which makes up the Chesapeake Bay estuary. These tributaries are a critical part of the general wellbeing of the Chesapeake Bay biological system. The essential point of this trek was to examine the natural life found in the Jug Bay region and record information about it. Description of Methods/Procedure: Though out the day we went and investigated two different plots and explored the wetlands. In the two plots we went to, we had to research the wildlife to decide if the plot was a young forest, a mature...
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...Systems of Natural Science 114.2.3 Ecosystems Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem (Taylor & Allen) • The Bay is approx. 200 miles long, from Havre de Grace, Maryland to Virginia Beach, Virginia • The Bay's width ranges from 4 miles near Aberdeen, Maryland, to 30 miles near Cape Charles, Virginia Major Components Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Biotic Components (Living) Abiotic Components (Non-living) • • • • • • 350 species of fish Crabs Shellfish Birds Mammals Reptiles and Amphibians (Bay stat) • • • • • Water Quality Sunlight Weather Soil Air (pollution) Current Human Impact on Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Air Pollution Vehicles, industries, power plants, gas-powered lawn tools, and farm operations: Almost one third of the nitrogen that pollutes the Bay and its rivers comes from the air Pollution from a very large geographic area can eventually wind up in the Bay Water Quality Fertilizers, waste water and vehicle emissions: • • Increased nitrogen and phosphorus fuels unnaturally high algae growth in the water Algae turns color of the water brownish or greenish - blocking sunlight from reaching underwater grasses When algae die they are decomposed by bacteria that consume the oxygen needed by other aquatic creatures in the bay Without enough oxygen dissolved in the water, aquatic creatures like fish, blue crabs and oysters become stressed or even die. • • • Air and water pollution are not separate problems. There is a close link between the health...
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...crabs are blue crab migration at Chesapeake Bay and red crab migration Chrismas Island. However, blue and red crabs choose different strategies (e.g. timing, route, mechanisms) in order to successfully complete migration and maximize survival of offspring. At Chesapeake Bay, blue crab mating typically occurs from May to October in lower salinity areas of the Chesapeake Bay. After mating, males remain in these lower salinity areas. However, because blue crab larvae require high salinities for proper development, females will begin moving south to the spawning grounds near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and near-shore coastal areas. Periods of peak spawning (larval release) along the Mid-Atlantic Bight have typically been documented from late July through August. After spawning, many females use flood tides to return to the lower estuary, where they may produce subsequent broods, but do not move back into lower salinity zones. Some mature females may also move into near-shore and offshore coastal waters after spawning. The Chesapeake Bay is a large estuary and for many crabs the distance between mating areas the spawning grounds can be considerable (> 100 km). Peak spawning typically occurs in the late summer; therefore, crabs beginning to migrate in the early fall may not be able to spawn that year. According to a study, in which, blue crab were tagged, released and recaptured, it appears that most female blue crabs in the upper Chesapeake Bay appear to begin the spawning migration...
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...had to pay back taxes for there crews. Ÿ It had been the best year ever for oysters, however many of the tongers and dredgers hadn’t gone far enough up the bay for the winter, as they usually did for the last ten years. Ÿ Early spring the time all watermen dreamed of a great season to come. Ÿ Captain grant the watermen the author went out with said,“ don’t mind going out in this weather, catching some crabs.”(pg.264) Ÿ Part way through the season he brought his boat home, like a number of the other watermen who found better conditions in Tangier Sound. Ÿ The price for oysters had remained around five dollars a bushel. Ÿ Captain Grant was talking about how he wanted a better and easier life for his boys, “bricklaying that’s a good start, easy enough to learn, the pay is good and you don’t need a whole lot of equipment.” Sometimes he thought about it himself, to tell the truth. “ But here I am out on the water again, if we just caught one or two, be alright.”(pg.266) Ÿ As far as anybody could tell, the early season was not going very well. Early year more and more crabbers were working late into autumn, and Grant figured that had to mean the old crabs would be scarce the following springs. Ÿ Bait was sky high at $5 three quarter of a bushel, and the diesel fuel had climbed to over forty cents a gallon. Ÿ Chesapeake watermen are excellent mechanics, but they...
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...audience for the “Maryland Blue Crabs-How to Pick ‘Em and Eat ‘Em” instruction manual. Summary: The target audience for the instruction manual will be categorized in three groups; primary, secondary and tertiary. The primary audience is intended to be people who have never “picked” or eaten a Maryland Blue Crab. The secondary audience consists of people that may be familiar with eating crabs but are only interested in the technique being taught. The tertiary audience would consist of people whom are not necessarily looking to pick up the manual and eat crabs but may look at the manual simply in passing. Primary Audience: This audience will be individuals who are new to or visiting Maryland that has an interest in eating this Chesapeake Bay delicacy. Tourists, new Maryland residents or other individuals from the area that have a newly developed interest in crabs are grouped in this category. Tourists are individuals who are not from this area and are likely to be visiting or passing through Maryland. New residents are also part of the prime audience along with current residents of Maryland both who have decided to enjoy what is such a big tradition of the state. With Maryland designating the blue crab as the State Crustation, when individuals visit, “picking crabs” is on the top of the list for “things to do”. The audience in this category is very wide, they could range from any age level, any educational level and could be from any part of the world. Many of these...
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...EARLY COLONIZATION PERIOD IN AMERICA By the 1700’s two settlements had been established, Chesapeake and New England regions. Both New England and the Chesapeake region started off as colonies, established by England, and were divided into two distinct societies because of their religious, economic and geographical differences. The first major difference between the two settlements was religion. On one hand, the puritans, who colonized the New England, were very religious. They wanted to create a model society in which there were limits to legitimate commercial behavior, and the religious idealism would turn into a renewed sense of community. They were very strict in their religious beliefs. The Chesapeake region took a different approach, and did not put religion at the center of life. In the Chesapeake, religion was much less severe. These was the difference between two region. The second difference between the two settlements was economy. The Chesapeak’s economy was almost entirely based on farming. Rice, indigo, tobacco, sugarcane, and cotton were cash crops. Crops were grown on large plantations where slaves and indentured servants worked the land. On the other hand New England’s economy was largely depend on ocean. Fishing was most important to the New England economy. Farming was difficult in New England for crops like wheat because of the poor soil. As can be seen the economic sources was different between the two region. The last difference between the two settlements...
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...I have always been fascinated with the environment and the impact that human actions have on it. I remember when I went on a canoeing trip with my environmental science class down the James River and into the Chesapeake Bay. We were accompanied by the Chesapeake Bay watershed manager, who was there to give us a lecture on the water system that we were riding upon. What the Chesapeake Bay watershed was, what rivers fed into it, and what its importance was. According to him, it was a polluted, graying body of water located between the Virginia mainland and the Eastern Shore that acted a collections facility for all the waste water on the Eastern half of Virginia. Towards the end of the ride, I was knocked out of my boat by a fellow student who I may or may not have shoved into the water thirty-minutes prior, and I came to fully understand what the watershed manager meant by polluted. I exited the water with a plastic wrap on my leg and a multitude of black particles littering my body. This realization of contamination, prompted my immediate inquiry....
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...The next day, after the meeting with Mrs Graves, I toured the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Brock Environmental Center. This structure is, currently, aiming for the Living Building Challenge certification which takes about one year for it to accomplish since they have to test it for its LBC properties. I had five takeaways from the tour: Renewable Energy, building envelope, Heat-Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Design, and Recycling and Reuse of Resources. Walt showed me renewable energy of CBF, which comprised of photovoltaic cells on the roof and two wind turbines. According to him, the photovoltaic solar panels on roof provided 80% of the electricity and the wind turbines produced 20%. This went against the previous predicted calculations...
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...The purpose of the Bradford Conservation District is to work with other organizations such as USDA, and NRCS to protect resources in Bradford County. Also to restore and clean up streams, water sources, soil and work with the Chesapeake Bay program. A conservation district is division of the state government to deal with problem at a municipality level. The district has the ability to fine subjects not following the policies, and laws put into place by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The meeting was called to order on Monday November 2nd. The members of the Bradford County Conservation District, other environmental organizations in the conservation building, and members of the...
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