Chesapeake Bay Low Freshwater Inflow Study. Phase II.MAPFOLIO. Biota Assessment.

摘要

An assessment of the effects of low freshwater inflow conditions on the biota of Chesapeake Bay was conducted through use of data output from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Chesapeake Bay Hydraulic Model. Four sets of test conditions (scenarios) were used which simulated effects of drought and effects of future consumptive water withdrawal and use as deviations from present average flow conditions. Changes in habitat of over 50 biological organisms were predicted and mapped based on salinity and other variables. Changes in habitat, which were used to delineate the amount of impact from low flow, were found to include increases and decreases depending on the species, its lifecyle, tolerances, and interactions with other organisms. The magnitude of habitat change was found to generally increase as salinity changes increased. (Author)