Lower Food Web

The lower food web includes the benthic and planktonic communities:

• The benthos are plants and animals that live at the bottom of the Bay. Benthic animals include worms, shellfish and bottom-feeding fish.
• Plankton are free-floating, often microscopic plants and animals that live in the water column. The plankton community includes phytoplankton (algae), zooplankton (tiny animals) and bacteria.

How Is the Lower Food Web Important?

The entire lower food web — both the benthic and planktonic communities — are important indicators of the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

• Phytoplankton, or algae, are primary producers, which means they form the base of the Chesapeake Bay food web.
• Benthos and zooplankton are vulnerable to unhealthy water conditions such as chemical contaminants, excess nutrients and sediment, and low oxygen levels. Algae respond directly to nutrient pollution; when there are too many nutrients in the water, large algae blooms can form and harm underwater life.

Scientists analyze the interactions of the benthic and planktonic communities with higher trophic levels to assess changes in the health of the Bay and its habitats.