Maps

Phytoplankton monitoring is designed to detect and monitor changes in phytoplankton and picoplankton abundances and species composition in relation to changing water quality conditions in the Chesapeake Bay. These plankton are the dominant primary producers on the Bay and are the base of the food chain. Excessive blooms of phytoplankton species are considered evidence of eutrophication in the Bay and degrade water quality as well as block needed light to bay grasses.

Benthic organisms are animals, plants and bacteria that live on or at the bottom of water bodies. These benthos are an important part of the food web, as they consume phytoplankton and in turn are consumed by larger organisms, including finfish. Another service benthic organisms perform is to break down organic matter that collects on the bottom of the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Program monitors the health of these benthic communities using both fixed and random stations. The results of this monitoring are compiled into an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI).

The 2003 Chesapeake Bay Program Segmentation Scheme is a revision of the 2000 version that incorporates four changes: the addition of a new segment (ANATF) that separates the Anacostia River from the rest of the Potomac Tidal Fresh (POTTF) segment, the merger of two Elizabeth River segments (ELIMH and ELIPH into ELIPH) and the small segment boundary location changes between Mattaponi River segments MPNTF and MPNOH and between Choptank River segments CHOTF and CHOOH. Further information about the 2003 Chesapeake Bay Program Segmentation Scheme can be found at http://www.chesapeakebay.net/segmentscheme.htm