VI-193 



The case study selected here Is Newport Bay, California because 

 of the plans being made to develop this area within the next 

 few years. 



Bay development typically Involves replacing shallow marshland 

 with navigable open water (usually ten to thirty feet deep). 

 Entirely terrestrial Islands and peninsulas may be left In the 

 bay or built up by filling. Organic productivity by marsh vegeta- 

 tion Is eliminated and the food bases remaining for animal com- 

 munities are either phytoplankton or dimly Illuminated (and hence 

 sparse) bottom vegetation. Populations dwelling In shallow zones 

 find their habitat greatly reduced. Deep-water animals have an 

 expanded habitat, but cannot multiply faster than their basic 

 organic food resources. 



If deep water attached plants existed In the Bay, and 1f they 

 survive the construction activities, they can colonize the newly 

 created deeper bottoms. As plant cover develops, habitats and food 

 resources become available for animal communities. If the proper 

 plants are absent or lost, or If bottom niumination is low, 

 attached vegetation may never gain a foothold. Bay life then 

 depends totally on phytoplankton productivity. Many species, includ- 

 ing animals sought by man, cannot utilize planktonic food resources. 

 These forms dwindle or vanish. 



