Analysis of the Biodiversity of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

Madeline Jaffe

Mentor: Dr. Eric Schott

Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor ecosystem has faced numerous sources of pollution since its creation, including nutrient and sewage runoff, urbanization, and litter. As a result, there has been increased interest in enhancing and conserving the ecosystem, which has seen a decrease in heavy industry in the last half-century. The goal of my research was to analyze environmental and biological data in order to begin to understand the complex relationships between biodiversity and environmental factors in the Inner Harbor. Biodiversity samples were collected on small plastic disks called biodisks, which were submerged in the water for a month at a time to allow for the building of microscopic communities. Biodisks were then recorded under a microscope in order to find species counts and calculate overall biodiversity. By calculating the rates of return of biodiversity after low-oxygen events, I found that biodiversity at an Experimental Site close to a healthy wetland simulation implemented to promote biodiversity in the Harbor had a faster rate of return from die-offs than that of the Reference Site further away, suggesting a more resilient ecosystem. I also researched the individual species of the barnacle from 2016-2018, a prominent filter in the Harbor ecosystem as well as a sign of healthy oxygen levels. The barnacle population at both sites was found to increase over time, with higher significance at the Experimental Site. This contributes to the understanding of how restoration projects could continue to improve the resilience of the Harbor ecosystem and reinforces the importance of oxygen for biodiversity.