Def. A body of water open to the ocean, but with a large input of fresh water from the land.

1. The bay receives over half its water from the Atlantic ocean.
2. The rest drains off 64,000 sq. miles of land. (50 rivers)

1. Phytoplankton- microscopic unicellular algae. (diatoms, dinoflagellates)
2. Submerged aquatic grasses, (SAVs). Bay grasses
   1. These are hydrophytes- live under water.
   2. Land plants that returned to an aquatic environment
   3. Lots of air spaces to hold oxygen and CO2.
   4. Still require light energy for photosynthesis
   5. They provide the habitat for almost all of the bay animals (crabs, shellfish, fish)
3. Marshes of the Bay
   1. Tidal marshes exist between the high and low tide lines.
   2. A very difficult habitat
   3. Ecological role of marsh plants
      1. trap sediment
      2. absorb nutrients and pollutants
      3. Also habitat for many animals
4. Video Question of the Day: What is the cause of the significant loss of the bay grasses in the bay over the last 20 years, and what is the result of this.