ANIMALS & PLANTS

Animals & Plants
These pages provide information about Chesapeake Bay fish, crabs & shellfish, bay grasses (SAV), the lower food web, birds, mammals, reptiles & amphibians, exotic species, and more plants & animals.

Chesapeake & Coastal Bay Life
A guide to organisms found in and around the bay. Includes a detailed natural history database with an extensive species listing including fish, bay grasses, benthic organisms, aquatic insects, zooplankton, and phytoplankton. Grades 5-12.

Horseshoe Crab History, Biology, Research and Conservation
This site is provides an excellent source of research-based information about horseshoe crab biology, life stages, reproduction, history and management.

Mapping Sea Nettles in Chesapeake Bay
Maps of probable sea nettle presence are created on this site by identifying locations where the current environmental conditions are favorable to sea nettles. This is accomplished using data derived from hydrodynamic computer models and NOAA satellites. Species identification and background information is also provided here.

Bay Grasses in Classes
As part of the Bay Grasses in Classes program, students will grow bay grasses in the classroom for transplanting to select areas in the Bay. The program, cooperatively developed by DNR and CBF, provides teacher instruction, curricula and equipment.

Fish Facts: Maryland DNR Fisheries Service
Fish facts is a collection of information about the wide variety of fish you can find in the state of Maryland. The individual fact sheets will give you information about where you could find the organism, what they eat, breeding patterns and identification information.

Fish Health in the Chesapeake Bay
Learn about health issues of fish found in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Bay Grasses General Information
This page discusses different types of SAV, growth, and abundance.

Blue Crabs in the Chesapeake
This site includes general information about the blue crab, and management and research strategies.

The Blue Crab Education Page
This site includes basic info about the blue crab life cycle, fishery, anatomy (including a "talking blue crab"), and blue crab data, research reports, and educational resources.

Blue Crab Facts
This site covers the crab's life history, fishery, and management.

Natural Resources in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
This page from USGS discusses the status and trends of Bay habitats and species.