Chesapeake Bay Research BY: Alexis Narh

It is important to have a variety of living things in the Bay. The Oyster Drills help to keep the Bay fed. The Sea Cucumbers help to keep the Bay clean. The Herring Gulls help to keep the Bay water clean. My research will show that these animals are very helpful in the Chesapeake Bay.

Oyster Drills Oyster Drills feed blue crabs and other fish. They keep the balance in the food chain by eating shellfish. If there were no Oyster Drills, blue crabs would (probably) starve. If blue crabs and die, then fisherman wouldn’t get as much money. They are part of the gastropod family. Another animal that has something in common with Oyster Drills are Sea Cucumbers.

Sea Cucumbers Sea cucumbers eat dead/decaying plants. They clean by eating debris from the ocean. They are eaten by turtles and crustaceans. Also, Sea cucumbers recycle nutrients. Sea cucumbers live deep in the ocean where some nutrients sometimes isn’t needed. Another animal related to Sea cucumbers are Herring Gulls.

Herring Gulls Herring Gulls clean the ocean/Bay too. Herring Gulls drink seawater, separating the salt. They eat fish, insects, birds, crabs, small mammals, ect. They also prefer eating debris. They are very protective and aggressive parents.

Conclusion In conclusion I learned that Herring Gulls clean salt from the water. Sea Cucumbers eat the trash. And that the oyster drills feed blue crabs.

Bibliography /seacucumber ull