The Ecosystem Of The Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay is a 200-mile-long estuary extending from Norfolk, VA to Havre de grace Maryland. On average this bay contains about 68 trillion liters of water. This bay is the largest estuary in North America. It inhabits more than 3,000 species of plants, animals, and fish. “Since the early twentieth century, the Chesapeake Bay has experienced serious environmental degradation. Problems include large reductions in sea grass, reduced amounts of finfish and shellfish (especially oysters and crab), seasonal depletions in dissolved oxygen, and increases in sedimentation.” (Atkins & Anderson, 2003) These changes are brought on by pollution (Eutrophication and Toxic Contamination), development, deforestation, and agriculture. And according

An issue that was present in few specific cities in Maryland have now expanded throughout the entire state. The Chesapeake Bay, a large estuary that has an extremely complex ecosystem that is vital to important habitats and food webs in this area. The Chesapeake bay is arguably one of the most productive environments in the United States. Over the years, this bay has been in a decline of wellness. Pollution, contaminants, and many other factors are destroying the overall well being of these waters, and completely messing up the important ecosystem that has been built there. Although there is an extreme amount of Marylanders fighting for the restoration of the Chesapeake, there are also who are not.

Scientists and researchers began giving a large volume of effort and look into the extremely complex problems that face the Chesapeake Bay. When research for the improving and saving of the Bay’s overall health began it seemed very simple and there were only a couple of problems. The problems included nutrients from agricultural runoff; these nutrients were phosphorus and nitrogen. The combination of the nutrients in the Bay caused a large volume of algae that choked some of the marine life. While bringing in algae the nutrients also killed grasses on the seafloor. These seafloor bed grasses that once covered more than half of the Chesapeake Bay’s floor now only covered a tenth of their original area. Though the estuary was having problems it did not receive the terrible pollution from industries that many large rivers and lakes do in other urban areas (Brown, p. 397).

The Chesapeake Bay and the New England colonies displayed many differences. The major differences became very clear as the settlements continued

The New England colonies were formed by Protestants who were escaping England. They ‘planned’ their society. When they came over they brought entire families, not just random people. The Chesapeake region colonies were formed by whoever signed up. The reasons that resulted in the differences between the New England and the Chesapeake colonies were political, social, and economic.

Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by the people of English origin, by 1700 the regions had evolved into two distinct societies. The reasons for this distinct development were mostly based on the type on people from England who chose to settle in the two areas, and on the manner in which the areas were settled.

In the early seventeenth century, the English began to establish colonies in the New World. The colonies in New England consisted of New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. While, the colonies making up the Chesapeake region were Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Given that the New England and Chesapeake region were both largely settled by those of English origin, by the 1700 they had evolved into two distinct societies because of the contrast in their geographical locations, their political structure, and their social hierarchy.

In order to help save the Bay some changes need to be made, human activity must change, the Bays health needs to become a higher priority and the steps that could be taken to restore the health of the Bay need to be discussed.

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. About half of the Bay’s water volume comes from salt water from the Atlantic Ocean. The other half drains into the Bay from its enormous 64,000-square-mile watershed. Estuaries are among the most productive environments on earth, creating more organic matter each year than similarly-sized forests and agricultural areas. Estuaries also provide diverse habitats for wildlife and aquatic life, protect our communities against flooding, reduce pollution of waterways, and support local economies through commercial and recreational activities. Thousands of species

The Chesapeake was shaped economically by tobacco, Bacons rebellion, by John Smith. The tobacco dominated in this particular region since 1618 it was very profitable and people grew it best on leveled grounds with 80% of Chesapeake homes laying ½ of a riverbank and most 600 feet of the shoreline, bottom line is tobacco was their destiny it was their money for food and other essentials. This shaped Chesapeake since it made up pretty much its entire economy so when tobacco falls, the world falls for them. The Bacon's Rebellion was a popular revolt in colonial Virginia in 1676, led by Nathaniel Bacon because of high taxes, low prices for tobacco, Sir William Berkeley the governor, provided the background for the uprising, which was precipitated by Berkeley's failure to defend the frontier against attacks by Native Americans. This shaped the region since we gained land, furs, and harvest. John smith was young, 28, but had experience fighting Turks and Spanish, and had enough experience to assume control in Virginia, he organized work bands, and ensured sufficient food and shelter for winter; he also became the colony's best Indian negotiator, and when he was captured by Indians in late 1607, he showed bravery and courage, and the chief's daughter, Pocahontas saved Smith's life. This shaped Chesapeake since he provided help for the colony and when he left for England the colonies went on a

Today, the Chesapeake Bay colony area is home to the United States capital, with the ma-

Eutrophication is a concern in the Chesapeake Bay. Eutrophication is caused by excessive amounts of nutrients. Excessive nutrients in the bay have negative effects on the bay's ecosystem. The extra nutrients make the environment unbalanced. The extra nutrients cause a chain reaction that eventually kills most of the organisms in that area. This is what is known as a dead zone.

Indentured servants where men and women who signed a contract to work for a certain number of years, usually between four and seven, in exchange for transportation to the colonies. The Chesapeake Bay colonies, Virginia and Maryland, where especially condition to use indentured servants. During this essay I will explain why the Chesapeake Bay colonies were in such need of the servants and why eventually they turned to slavery to fill the void left by the indentured servants.

Between 1813 and 1962, steamboats ruled the Chesapeake Bay, reflected in a fascinating and important era, in which trade and travel were made more convenient with steamers that linked parts of Maryland and Virginia, with distant and isolated rural communities along the Eastern Shore, in particular, including Piankatank River and Occohannock Creek in Virginia, Hudson Creek off the Little Choptank River in Maryland, Bushwood, and Rock Point It made possible access to certain goods and services typically unavailable east of the Bay, along with opportunities for leisure and entertainment.

If you live on the Eastern coast, you probably have heard of the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay is located on the eastern coast of Maryland and is almost 200 miles long and ranges from 4 to 30 miles wide. Holding almost 18 trillion gallons of water, the bay is home to more than 3,600 different species of plants and animals. It is well known for its blue crab and huge fish. Since the Chesapeake Bay is connected to the Atlantic Ocean and many small rivers, which drain into the bay, the water in the Chesapeake is a mixture of saltwater and freshwater. This mixture allows a large variety of aquatic animals to live in harmony. The Chesapeake may be in trouble though, due to nutrition pollution. (ChesapeakeBay.net)