Biological components of Galveston Bay

This chapter discusses the biological components of galveston bay. These biological components can be classified as follows: Phytoplankton, Benthic Microflora, Macroalgae, Submerged aquatic vegetation, Marshes, woodlands, and swamps, Invertebrates, Zooplankton, Benthos, Macroinvertebrates, Vertebrates, Fishes, Birds, Amphibians and Reptiles, Mammals. Other biological components include: Dynamics and Interaction, Primary Productivity, Primary Consumption, Habitat Utilization, and Fisheries. Other important considerations mentioned in this chapter include Ecological Interactions and Problems, Sea Level Rise and Wetlands Loss, Freshwater Inflow and Saltwater Intrusion, and Habitat Alteration. Given all of the above listed parameters, three important facts to remember concerning the health of the Galveston Bay biota are: There is a critical dependence of fish and wildlife on wetlands, A continued decline in wetlands acreage is forseen, and the timing and amount of freshwater inflow are critical to the biota as we now know it