Coastal and Estuarine Ecology and Management
Coastal and Estuarine Ecology and Management
This page contains numerous curriculum resources that may be used flexibly by Virginia Master Naturalist chapters and trainees to meet their learning needs. These resources also are available to other volunteer programs and the public for their use, but please note that watching or reading these materials cannot substitute for enrolling in and completing a basic training course with a VMN chapter in order to become a Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer.
Thank you to the numerous people who contributed to the creation of these materials, including Alycia Crall (former VMN program director, Karen Duhring (VIMS), Dot Field (VDCR), Carol Hopper Brill (VIMS), Shep Moon (VCZMP), Beth Polak (VCZMP), Virginia Witmer (VCZMP), the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and numerous VMN volunteers and Flickr Creative Commons users. Michelle Prysby, Director of the Virginia Master Naturalist program, served as the lead author and project coordinator. Funding for the development of the Coastal and Estuarine Ecology and Management curriculum was provided by a grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the Virginia Master Naturalist basic training course, participants will understand and be able to describe:
- The ecological, economical, and cultural importance of the Chesapeake Bay and other coastal and estuarine ecosystems in Virginia
- Coastal and estuarine habitats, including tidal and non-tidal wetlands, riparian forests, tidal marshes, aquatic reefs, shallow waters, open waters, dunes, and beach strand
- Common flora and fauna and key threatened/endangered species found in these habitats
- How physical factors such as water chemistry (salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other compounds), tides, and weather influence coastal and estuarine ecology
- Threats to coastal and estuarine ecosystems in Virginia, including sediments, nutrients, toxins, marine debris, development, and invasive species
- Impacts of climate change on coastal and estuarine ecosystems, including those already being experienced and those forecasted for the future
- The role of state, federal, and local agencies in protecting and managing coastal lands in Virginia, including key laws and programs such as the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act
- The role of citizens in the stewardship of coastal and estuarine resources
- The use of management tools such as buffers, living shorelines, and conservation landscaping in conserving coastal and estuarine resources
Participants also will be able to:
- Identify some common flora and fauna found in coastal and estuarine habitats
- Communicate with others about the importance of the Chesapeake Bay and other estuarine and coastal resources and about how personal actions can impact these resources
- Use Coastal GEMS to find information about coastal resources
Introductory Videos
What: Short videos to introduce volunteers to the topic of Coastal and Estuarine Ecology and Management.
Possible uses:
- Have trainees watch before class as preparation
- Watch as part of class
- Have trainees watch after class as review or supplementary material
- Have existing members watch as a refresher on this topic
Video 1: Living Shorelines
An interview with Karen Duhring of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Center for Coastal Resources Management. Karen also is a member of the VMN Steering and Executive Committees. Watch below or at video.vt.edu.
Watch on WebsiteVideo 2: Bay 101: Oysters
This video is just one from a series of many videos produced by the Chesapeake Bay Program. You can find additional short videos about other aspects of the Chesapeake Bay, such as blue crabs and bay grasses, at http://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/bay101.
Watch on WebsiteVideo 3: Baywatch: Sea-level Rise and Chesapeake Bay Marshlands
This video is just one from a series of many videos produced by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. You can find additional short videos on the Bay and the creatures that live there at http://www.vims.edu/bayinfo/baywatch/index.php.
Watch on WebsiteBackground Readings
Most Recommended Readings
- Chesapeake Bay: Introduction to an Ecosystem, Chesapeake Bay Program
- Bay Barometer, 2023-2024, Chespeake Bay Program
- Better Backyard: A Citizen’s Guide to Beneficial Landscaping and Habitat Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Supplemental Readings
- VDCR Natural Heritage Factsheets relating to coastal and estuarine species
- Virginia Coastal Zone Management magazine
- Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program Living Shorelines Fact Sheet
- Chesapeake Bay Program Bay Field Guide
- Estuary Education, National Estuarine Research Reserve System
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science Center for Coastal Resources Management Nature-Based Solutions
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science Shallow Water Habitats
- Field Guide to Salt and Brackish Marsh Plants (VIMS Center for Coastal Resources Management)
Above and Beyond, for those seeking more in-depth information
Note that book publisher websites are provided, but often these books are available from other sources at varying prices.
- Life in the Chesapeake Bay by Alice Jane Lippson and Robert L. Lippson
- A Naturalist’s Guide to the Virginia Coast by Curtis J. Badger
- Chesapeake Bay – Nature of the Estuary: A Field Guide by Christopher P. White
- Beautiful Swimmers: Watermen, Crabs, and Chesapeake by William W. Warner
- Turning the Tide by Tom Horton
- Field Guide to Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay by Edward O. Murdy and John A. Musick
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Identification Resources
- Virginia Save Our Streams macroinvertebrate dichotomous chart
- Virginia Save Our Streams ID cards
- Virginia Save Our Streams ‘cheat sheet’
- Isaak Walton League Key to Stream Macroinvertebrates
- Stroud Water Research Center key to freshwater macroinvertebrates
Additional Video Resources
Presentation Videos
What: A three-part set of online videos of PowerPoint presentations with narration by Michelle Prysby, Director of the Virginia Master Naturalist program. Combined, they are approximately 34 minutes long.
Possible uses:
- Have trainees watch before class as preparation
- Watch as part of class, combined with hands-on activities
- Have trainees watch after class as review
- Share with instructor to give him/her an idea of the type of material to cover
- Have trainees watch as a make-up for a missed class on the same topic
- Have existing members watch as a refresher on this topic
User Notes: Please note that you can make the video full-screen and toggle the closed captioning on and off. These videos are also available at video.vt.edu: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Please also note that these videos are intended to be used in conjunction with the handout provided below.
Note for Basic Training Chairs and Course Instructors: The script for the full Powerpoint presentation is provided below for download in MS Excel format, which makes it easy to add, delete, or re-order slides. Basic training chairs for VMN chapters may contact the state office for access to the full Powerpoint file. Both the Powerpoint and the script may be used and adapted for your courses. Please pay attention to the image license restrictions listed in the notes section for each slide in the Powerpoint file.
Presentation Handout
What: A four-page handout that matches up with the presentation. It is best printed in color, but black and white is acceptable.
Possible uses: The handout is meant to accompany the PowerPoint presentation or the videos, so if an instructor is using the presentation in class, he/she should distribute the handout in lieu of a handout containing all the slides. It is not recommended that you print the slides for a handout, as they are almost entirely image-based and would not make good reference material.
Note: VMN chapters may want to include an additional handout listing specific related volunteer projects and opportunities approved for their chapters.
Activity Lesson Plans
What: Lesson plans for an interactive activity that may be used during class time to support some of the learning objectives for this topic. In this activity, “What’s For Lunch”, participants learn about food webs in the Chesapeake Bay.
Possible uses: This activity can be used during class time to encourage trainees to apply the material they have learned and to break up lecture time with an interactive exercise. The lesson plan is written so that it may be led by a non-expert, including VMN volunteers.
Assessment Questions
What: A set of possible assessment questions on this topic for VMN trainees.
Possible uses: Incorporate these questions into written or practical assessments during the course.