Name ______________________
BayQuest Challenge Follow Up Questions
The questions below appear in the PDA, in no specific order, as you find the organisms on your
To Do List. There are some additional questions here that are not in the PDA.
Question A
Organism: _________________________ Habitat: _______________________
Significant salinity changes in a habitat can kill organisms. Check the salinity in this organism’s
habitat by clicking on the buoy. Does the salinity in this habitat fall within the acceptable range?
Describe how an increase or decrease in salinity could affect this species’ survival.
Location
Acceptable
Salinity Range
Upper Bay
<5 PSU
Middle Bay
5-15 PSU
Lower Bay
15-35 PSU
Is the Lower Bay always higher in salinity than the Upper Bay? Check the Jamestown buoy
(sandy beaches) for salinity and explain what you find. Discuss the factors that determine the
salinity levels in different areas of the Bay.
Question B
Organism: _________________________
Habitat:_______________________
Organisms in the Bay need dissolved oxygen in the water. If dissolved oxygen levels fall below
5 mg/L many organisms cannot survive. Is the dissolved oxygen in this organism’s habitat at a
level high enough to sustain life?
What affect do bay grasses have on dissolved oxygen levels?
What affect do algae have? (watch out—this is more complex!!)
What are some other factors that affect the levels of dissolved oxygen in Bay waters?
________________________________________________________________________
2005-2011 Maryland Public Television. All Rights Reserved.
Bayville
http://bayville.thinkport.org
Name ______________________
BayQuest Challenge Questions p.2
Question C
Organism: _________________________
Habitat: _______________________
The growth of bay grasses and phytoplankton, primary producers in all Bay habitats, is affected
by turbidity. Check the salinity and turbidity levels in this organism’s habitat. Use the table to
determine if the turbidity is in the acceptable range. What are the consequences to this
organism if turbidity is not in the acceptable range?
Salinity Range Turbidity
Range
<5 PSU
< 17 NTU
5-15 PSU
< 6 NTU
15-35 PSU
< 3.5 NTU
Describe a situation which would cause turbidity to significantly increase over a short period of
time.
If turbidity is too high how will it affect organisms other than the primary producers?
Suggest an explanation for the ability of organisms in fresher water (with lower salinity) to
tolerate higher levels of turbidity.
________________________________________________________________________
2005-2011 Maryland Public Television. All Rights Reserved.
Bayville
http://bayville.thinkport.org
Name ______________________
BayQuest Challenge Questions-p.3
Question D
Organism: _________________________
Habitat: _______________________
What does this organism eat? What organisms eat this organism? How would a sudden
decrease in this organism’s population affect the food chain in this habitat?
Is this organism a producer, primary consumer, or secondary (or tertiary) consumer? Place this
organism and at least one other in this pyramid. Explain why producers are placed at the bottom
of the pyramid.
How would a dramatic increase in this organism’s population affect the ecosystem?
Discuss how an increase in the population of predators of this organism would affect the
organism.
Discuss how an increase in the population of prey of this organism would affect the organism.
.
________________________________________________________________________
2005-2011 Maryland Public Television. All Rights Reserved.
Bayville
http://bayville.thinkport.org
Name ______________________
Question E
Organism: _________________________
BayQuest Challenge Questions-p.4
Habitat: _______________________
Invasive species are organisms that are not native to a habitat and spread rapidly because they
have no predators and/or are not susceptible to the diseases like the native species. Explain
how an invasive species of fish might change this organism’s habitat.
Sometimes species are introduced into an area for a specific purpose— for example sport
fishing or to clean up oil spills. Do you think non-native oysters should be introduced into the
Chesapeake Bay? Justify your answer.
Final Question:
The PROduction Company would like to know how the health of the Bay affects the plants and
animals that live there. Looking back at the follow up questions and your responses; what
environmental factor do you think has the biggest effect on the health of the Bay? Explain what
the affect of this factor is.
The Bay is affected by abiotic factors—physical characteristics like temperature—and biotic
factors—biological characteristics like predator populations. List 3 biotic and 3 abiotic factors
that you have examined in BayQuest. How are they related to each other?
The PROduction Company would like to encourage people to improve the health of the Bay.
What recommendations would you make to assist them?
________________________________________________________________________
2005-2011 Maryland Public Television. All Rights Reserved.
Bayville
http://bayville.thinkport.org