Description/Abstract/Artist Statement

Seagrass in the Chesapeake Bay has seen an increase due to restoration efforts since the 90s, but with the extreme change of climate, we are unsure if the seagrass will thrive or perish, and where it will occur in the bay. Seagrass stabilizes coastal sediments, reducing erosion and protecting shorelines. It provides crucial habitats and nursery grounds for a diverse range of marine species, supporting both biodiversity and fisheries. Additionally, they play a significant role in carbon sequestration, which mitigates the effects of climate change. This study specifically looked at the area from the mouth of the Rappahannock River up the shoreline to the Great Wicomico River. Using satellite imagery from the past 4 years, we use a system to classify where the seagrass presides over the course of each year. With this, we can see trends of where seagrass is increasing or decreasing through the years. With the current results and figures we have gathered, we can see that there is clear seasonal variability, dying back in the winter, and growth in the summer. Although overall the total amount of seagrass appears to be consistent throughout the years, some areas within the larger study site have larger interannual variation than other areas, this conclusion would suggest that we could see an impact on the animal diversity in the bay due to them using the seagrass as a habitat and food source. We could also see an impact on the coastline of the area researched due to erosion since seagrass is a barrier to waves and water fluctuations. The next step would be to further investigate what the contributing factors are that could be driving this observed variability whether it’s the salinity, water temperature, water clarity, or other factors.

Presenting Author Name/s

Brandon Watson

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Victoria Hill

Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department

Oceanography

College Affiliation

College of Sciences

Presentation Type

Poster

Disciplines

Other Plant Sciences | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

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17 - Mapping the spatial distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation using commercial satellite imagery

Seagrass in the Chesapeake Bay has seen an increase due to restoration efforts since the 90s, but with the extreme change of climate, we are unsure if the seagrass will thrive or perish, and where it will occur in the bay. Seagrass stabilizes coastal sediments, reducing erosion and protecting shorelines. It provides crucial habitats and nursery grounds for a diverse range of marine species, supporting both biodiversity and fisheries. Additionally, they play a significant role in carbon sequestration, which mitigates the effects of climate change. This study specifically looked at the area from the mouth of the Rappahannock River up the shoreline to the Great Wicomico River. Using satellite imagery from the past 4 years, we use a system to classify where the seagrass presides over the course of each year. With this, we can see trends of where seagrass is increasing or decreasing through the years. With the current results and figures we have gathered, we can see that there is clear seasonal variability, dying back in the winter, and growth in the summer. Although overall the total amount of seagrass appears to be consistent throughout the years, some areas within the larger study site have larger interannual variation than other areas, this conclusion would suggest that we could see an impact on the animal diversity in the bay due to them using the seagrass as a habitat and food source. We could also see an impact on the coastline of the area researched due to erosion since seagrass is a barrier to waves and water fluctuations. The next step would be to further investigate what the contributing factors are that could be driving this observed variability whether it’s the salinity, water temperature, water clarity, or other factors.