Chesapeake Bay Webquest:
Name:
Date:
Period:
Directions:
Direct links are provided by the Chesapeake Bay Webquest page at my website:
www.mrgittermann.weebly.com
All links can be found through the website, via navigation, at:
www.chesapeakebay.net
Facts & Figures:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/factsandfigures.aspx?menuitem=14582
1. What is an estuary:
2. What are the dimensions of the bay:
a. Length of the bay:
b. Width Range:
to
c. Volume:
d. Depth Range:
to
e. Average Depth:
3. How many miles of shoreline make up the bay:
4. What is the total surface area of the bay:
Watershed:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/thebaywatershed.aspx?menuitem=13942
1. What is a watershed:
2. What is the land to water ratio and how many tributaries contribute to the
Chesapeake Bay? How does this affect the bay?
Bay Geology:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/baygeology.aspx?menuitem=14604
1. What was the initial event that lead to the Bay’s creation:
2. What other factor contributed to its formation:
3. What three geological areas contribute geology of the bay? What specific
characteristics do they add:
The Estuary System:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/estuarysystem.aspx?menuitem=14605
1. What three rivers contribute 80% of the Bay’s freshwater:
2. Describe how the salinity of the Bay changes as you travel from the North to the
South? Why does this occur?
Chemical Make-Up:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/chemicalmakeup.aspx?menuitem=14606
1. Why does the chemical composition of freshwater vary place to place:
2. What are the three sources that contribute to the chemical composition of fresh
& salt water:
3. What two gases are most important for organisms in the Bay:
4. Nitrogen and Phosphorus are important nutrients for Bay organisms. How and why
are they causing so many problems in the Bay:
Food Web:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/foodweb.aspx?menuitem=15903
In the space below, create a simplified version of the food web that is presented. In your
diagram, label and describe the roles of each organism:
1. Describe how the chemical contaminants move through the food web?
Fish of the Bay:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishfacts/index.asp
Draw two of any of the fish and one of the shellfish presented on this page. Describe their
defining characteristics (click on their picture for this information):
Crabs & Shellfish:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/crabsandshellfish.aspx?menuitem=14623
1. What are the two broad categories that encompass crabs and shellfish? What
are their defining characteristics and examples:
Bay Grasses:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/baygrasses.aspx?menuitem=14621
1. What are three of the roles of bay grasses that help other organisms:
2. What four things do bay grasses do to help to keep the bay clean:
Bay Habitats:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/habitats.aspx?menuitem=13944
Using links, provide a quick description of each habitat:
Forests
Wetlands
Streams & Rivers
Shallow Waters
Tidal Marshes
Aquatic Reefs
Open Waters
Bay Pressures:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/baypressures.aspx?menuitem=13959
Using links, give a quick description of how each of the following puts pressure on the
Bay:
Land & People:
Air & Water Pollution:
Fisheries Harvest:
Natural Factors:
Invasive Species
Climate Changes:
Bay Restoration:
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/baypressures.aspx?menuitem=13959
Using the links, describe how each of the following helps the bay:
Restoring Water
Quality
Habitat Restoration
Managing Fisheries
Protecting
Watersheds