B-l 



BIOTIC COMMUNITIES OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY 1 



INTRODUCTION 



This report presents a summary of the characteristic 

 biota and biotic communities of the Chesapeake Bay region, defined 

 in terms of typical vegetation, associated animal species, and 

 critical environmental factors. The plant species listed are the 

 dominant or characteristic species typical of the various biotic 

 communities. The animal species lists are more extensive and in- 

 clude the common and/or characteristic species associated with 

 each biotic community. 



The ecology of the Chesapeake Bay region has been 

 influenced strongly by the presence of civilized man. But even 

 before the colonists had set foot on the continent, Indians had 

 made their presence known. Fire was an often used tool of the 

 Indians for hunting purposes and clearing land. 



Following colonization by white men, more intensive 

 land clearing occurred during the eighteenth and early part of 

 the nineteenth centuries. Lumber was needed for shelter and 

 firewood and the settlers brought their European agricultural 

 system with them. Virgin land was so plentiful that a shifting 

 form of agriculture with little care for the soil became 

 prevalent. Tobacco depleted much of the soil of its nutrients 

 and when fields were abandoned, erosion quickly exhausted the 

 topsoil. At the time of the Civil War, labor became scarce and 

 much of the previously cultivated land was abandoned. These 

 abandoned fields were invaded by loblolly pine Pinus taeda, 

 pitch pine Pinus rigida and scrub pine Pinus virginiana . These 

 species are typical pioneer tree species in old field or 

 secondary succession. 



Pine forests, although common, are not the climax 

 vegetation but are dominant due to a history of disturbances 

 including fire, agriculture and lumbering. Braun (1950) indicates 



The information for this appendix has been taken from a 

 report by the author on the "Atlantic Coastal Plain Natural 

 Region Survey" written for a contract with the National Park 

 Service's Natural Landmarks Program. This report was edited by 

 the principal investigator and author by extracting those portions 

 relevant to the Chesapeake Bay region. This report has certain 

 shortcomings primarily relating to the difference in scope of the 

 two reports; the larger Atlantic Coastal Plain region versus the 

 more circumscribed Chesapeake Bay region. 



