Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Project
SAV is an integral part of the Chesapeake's ecosystem providing habitat for shellfish and fish, food for waterfowl and marsh mammals and improved bay water quality. Since the early 1970s there has been a documented decline in SAV throughout the Bay, however, recent studies suggest the grasses are beginning to recover. Restoring SAV to the Chesapeake Bay is essential to the recovery of the Bay. SAV Research at Otter Point Creek (OPC) focuses on new methods to restore SAV. Effects of species diversity on restoration success, types of starter plants used, and quantifying growth and reproduction rates of various species used for restoration are some of the OPC projects.

Herpetology Monitoring Program
Reptiles and amphibians (herps) are good indicators of ecosystem health due to their close association with aquatic habitats and their sensitivity to different stresses. Evidence exists linking global herp declines to habitat destruction, degraded water quality, deforestation, highway construction and urban development. What role these factors and other potential stressors, such as: contaminants; introduced species; climate change; ultraviolet radiation; disease; and atmospheric deposition, play in the loss of these animals has not been determined. To help answer these questions we monitor herp populations at the Maryland Reserve. This baseline data will provide a better picture of species diversity, distribution, habitat preferences, relative abundance and overall health of herps in our area. Volunteers assist with research through the following programs: the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program Calling Surveys, the Great Herp Search and the Box Turtle Study. Additionally, high school and college interns conduct projects designed to answer specific questions about our herp populations.

Monie Bay Research

Monie Bay Literature Review

3.b.2Monie NERR Final Report.pdf

3.b.3UMD.sociostudy.moniebay.fnl.130.pdf

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary Research
A list of research projects and publications can be found on the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary web page at http://www.jugbay.org/research/

Would You Like Your Research Highlighted on this Website?
If you are scientist doing research within the Reserve, and would like to have a general summary of your research presented here, please contact our Research Coordinator. Additional research efforts are described on the component’s websites.