Apr 28, 2024 | Data Visualization, Habitats & Wildlife
Overview Thriving habitats and abundant wildlife are key priorities in the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP). The habitat report card is a two-page document that provides an accessible summary of habitat...
Sep 3, 2021 | Data Visualization, Habitats & Wildlife
Bay scallops are marine bivalves, or mollusks with a hinged shell, that are often found hidden among a forest of seagrass. Having a robust population of bay scallops in Tampa Bay is important for many reasons. Scallops are filter feeders and remove algae and organic...
Dec 21, 2020 | Data Visualization, Habitats & Wildlife
Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are ecosystem engineers and the reefs they build provide critical ecosystem services to coastal communities. The widespread loss of oyster reefs and the many ecosystem services they provide has led to the implementation of a...
Dec 16, 2020 | Data Visualization, Habitats & Wildlife
Overview Seagrass is an important habitat for fish and other marine animals. It stabilizes sediment, produces oxygen, and reduces shoreline erosion. The coverage, species, and condition of seagrass are significant indicators of ecosystem health in Tampa Bay. Over the...
Dec 2, 2020 | Data Visualization, Habitats & Wildlife, Waters & Sediments
Overview Benthic invertebrates are a group of relatively small organisms that live the majority of their life cycles in or near bay bottom sediments. They are a food source for small fish and crustaceans and may provide some water quality benefits through sediment...
Aug 19, 2020 | General News, Habitats & Wildlife
Habitat Master Plan The habitats of Tampa Bay, such as seagrasses, mangroves, salt marshes, and wet prairies, provide food, shelter, and other important services that support numerous birds, fish, mammals, and invertebrates. The Habitat Master Plan seeks to maximize...
