Ecological Studies in the Middle Reach of Chesapeake Bay

1. Front Matter

   Pages N2-VI

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2. General Characteristics of the Chesapeake Bay and Study Area

   1. General Characteristics of the Chesapeake Bay and Study Area

      • Kevin G. Sellner, Betty Ann Peters

      Pages 1-10

3. Ecosystem Structure and Function

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 11-11

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   2. Phytoplankton: Relationships Between Phytoplankton, Nutrients, Oxygen Flux and Secondary Producers

      • Kevin G. Sellner, Michael E. Kachur

      Pages 12-37

   3. Zooplankton

      • Marcia M. Olson

      Pages 38-81

   4. Epifauna

      • George R. Abbe

      Pages 82-96

   5. Benthos

      • Kenneth L. Heck Jr.

      Pages 97-110

   6. Shellfish

      • George R. Abbe

      Pages 111-166

   7. Fish

      • Richard J. Horwitz

      Pages 167-224

4. Assessment of Power Plant Impact

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 225-225

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   2. Entrainment Studies

      • Kevin G. Sellner, Michael E. Kachur, Marcia M. Olson

      Pages 226-253

   3. Impingement Studies

      • Richard J. Horwitz

      Pages 254-269

   4. Thermal and Other Discharge-Related Effects on the Bay Ecosystem

      • George R. Abbe

      Pages 270-275

5. Summary and Conclusions

   1. Summary and Conclusions

      • Kenneth L. Heck Jr.

      Pages 276-284

6. Back Matter

   Pages 285-287

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The decision to build a nuclear power plant at Calvert Cliffs on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in southern Maryland resulted in a Iandmark legal decision (Calvert Cliffs Coordinating Committee vs Atomic Energy Commission) and began one ofthe mostintensive long-term studies ever carried out in an American estuarine system. In the pages that follow we describe the major results and findings from studies conducted over more than a decade by scientists from The Academy of Natural Seiences of Philadelphia (ANSP). These studies were designed to assess the potential effects that operation ofthe Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP) might have on the mid-portion of Chesapeake Bay. The approach taken was to study major biotic components of the system over an area and a time period sufficient to allow comparison of conditions between preoperational and operational periods within a sampling locality, and comparisons of conditions at reference sites with those at impact sites afterplant operations began. Elementschosen for detailed study included: species composition and production rates of major primary producers; water chemistry; zooplankton, benthos and finfish abundance and species composition; the abundance and growth rates of commercially important shellfish (clams, oysters and blue crabs); and the colonization sequences of invertebrates on artificial substrates.

• biology
• ecosystem
• fauna
• phytoplankton
• plankton
• ecotoxicology
• water quality and water pollution

• Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory, Dauphin Island, USA

  Kenneth L. Heck

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