The Chesapeake Bay ecosystem affects the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. Its wetlands protect communities from extreme weather events, such as erosion, floods and storm surges. And the trees that extend from the shores of the bay and the forests refresh our communities. As an interconnected system, the health of the Bay Area affects the health of regions around the world, including the people who live in them. Underwater grasses are an essential component of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
They provide crucial habitat and breeding grounds for fish and crabs and provide food for waterfowl. They also remove contaminants from the water and help reduce coastal erosion by softening wave action. Pastures are a good indicator of the state of the bay because their health and abundance are closely related to water quality. Learn more about the role of underwater grasses.
What is dissolved oxygen? Laura Fabian, from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), explains why oxygen is so important to underwater life and how it's used to measure water quality in Chesapeake Bay. The bay is of regional, national and global importance, providing food sources, recreational opportunities and access to major shipping routes. It is vitally important to protect it from the damaging effects of pollution and climate change. ARS scientists are conducting research to better understand the bay's ecosystem (for example, this will benefit not only the United States, but also conservation efforts in other estuaries around the world, such as the Baltic Sea).
Protecting and restoring Chesapeake Bay and its creeks and rivers are essential for a healthy and dynamic economy. The bay offers countless opportunities and dollars when it comes to its fishing, tourism, real estate and shipping industries. Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It extends from north to south from the mouth of the Susquehanna River to the Atlantic Ocean.
It is one of the most productive estuaries in the world, with more than 3,600 species of animals and plants. The bay provides vitally important habitats for wildlife, many recreational opportunities for people, and is an important fishery on which both people and wildlife. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501 (c) (of the Internal Revenue Code). Like humans, all living things in Chesapeake Bay, from the fish and crabs that swim through its waters to the worms that burrow into its muddy bottom, need oxygen to survive.
The Chesapeake Bay watershed includes parts of six states and is home to some 17 million people, including cities in Washington, D. From providing an important source of drinking water to supporting a fishing industry that supports families and ways of life of older generations, the Chesapeake Bay watershed is an integral part of the human health and wealth of more than 18 million people. Five hundred million pounds of seafood are harvested each year in Chesapeake Bay to support livelihoods and livelihoods in the region. Chesapeake Bay is the largest and most productive estuary in the United States and the third largest in the world. With its long coastline, low topography, and growing coastal population, the Chesapeake Bay region is among the places in the country most vulnerable to rising sea levels.
It also helps Chesapeake Bay Program partners model how dissolved oxygen levels change. across time and space. The millions of people who live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed have left their mark on their lands and waters. To view dissolved oxygen levels throughout Chesapeake Bay, visit Eyes on the Bay (for Maryland waters) or the Virginia Estuary and Coastal Observation System (for Virginia waters).
Thank you very much, it helped me a lot with my homework and now I know more about the story of the incredible Chesapeake Bay.