Plankton Monitoring Stations - In Use 2000-2007
- Author:
- Howard Weinberg
- Date Created:
- January 31, 2008
Phytoplankton monitoring is designed to detect and monitor changes in phytoplankton and picoplankton abundances and species composition in relation to changing water quality conditions in the Chesapeake Bay. These plankton are the dominant primary producers on the Bay and are the base of the food chain. Excessive blooms of phytoplankton species are considered evidence of eutrophication in the Bay and degrade water quality as well as block needed light to bay grasses.