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An oblique aerial photograph of underwater grass beds in Chesapeake Bay.An example of the nature of aerial photographs collected each year during the VIMS bay grass monitoring program. This image, taken on June, 9, 2008, shows bay grass coverage in the vicinity of the Goodwin Islands near the mouth of the York River. A meadow of the eelgrass Zostera marina.Small shrimp-like creatures called amphipods thrive in grass beds, providing food for larger Bay organisms.Seagrass is also home to snails, which in turn provide food for crabs, fish and other organisms higher up the food chain. Sea turtles, such as the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) shown here, visit grass beds to graze on the blades and resident creatures.A SCUBA diver in an underwater grass bed.This oblique aerial photo shows a checkerboard pattern of planted seagrass beds.SAV researcher Scott Marion helps eelgrass seeds drop from flowering shoots for later collection. The seeds will be used for restoration.This and the following photo are before (June) and after (Dec) aerial photos from the bayside eastern shore of Maryland that clearly show the seagrass die-back observed by VIMS researchers throughout the lower Bay during the summer of 2005.This and the previous photo are before (June) and after (Dec) aerial photos from the bayside eastern shore of Maryland that clearly show the seagrass die-back observed by VIMS researchers throughout the lower Bay during the summer of 2005.Beds of eelgrass line the shoreline in front of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.Seagrass helps improve water clarity by reducing wave action and holding sediments in place.Seagrass growing in clear, shallow water along with red algae.Underwater grasses are true flowering plants (angiosperms) with roots, stems, leaves, and seeds.A reproductive shoot of the eelgrass Zostera marina. Bay grasses are true flowering plants with roots and seeds.Fruits of the eelgrass Zostera marina.Eelgrass seeds are smaller than a penny.A close-up of an eelgrass seed (Zostera marina). Each seed is smaller than a rice grain.Seagrass blades often wash up on Chesapeake Bay beaches during the summer when high temperatures stress the plants.
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