The Integration and Application Network (IAN) is a collection of scientists working to solve, not just study environmental problems. The intent of IAN and 
is to inspire, manage and produce timely syntheses and assessments on key environmental issues, with a special emphasis on Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. IAN is an initiative of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, but links with other academic institutions, resource management agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Latest Images - Free High Resolution Image LibraryA collection of 2738 free high resolution images (photos, satellite images, diagrams) and videos for scientists, resource managers, community groups, and environmentalists. Download for your science communication products, or contribute your own photos to help grow this resource.
Latest book
Shifting Sands: Environmental and cultural change in Maryland's Coastal Bays
Referring to both the dynamic nature of the barrier islands forming the coastal lagoons of Maryland’s Atlantic Ocean coastline and also the changing cultural landscape, Shifting Sands is a richly illustrated, multi-authored introduction to Assawoman Bay, Isle of Wight Bay, St. Martin River, Sinepuxent Bay, Newport Bay, and Chincoteague Bay. This book leads the reader on a voyage of discovery, providing a user-friendly guide to the history, setting, context, and ecology of these waterways nestled behind Assateague, Fenwick, and Chincoteague Islands. Photographs, conceptual diagrams, maps, and graphs are used to showcase the key features of and major threats to these magnificent bays, watersheds, and islands, with recommendations for how to preserve them for future generations.
Latest Report Card
2008 Coastal Bays report card
This report card provides a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of 2008 Coastal Bays’ health. Prepared annually, the report card rates six reporting regions of the Coastal Bays, using six indicators combined into a single overarching index of health. Health is defined as progress towards established scientifically derived ecological thresholds or goals. The overall health of Coastal Bays was moderate in 2008, obtaining a grade of C+. The report card website enables you to explore the report card in more detail via the regions and indicators.
Latest newsletter
Development of water transparency criteria for Florida seagrasses
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is developing a new transparency standard for marine waters that will protect the seagrass species found throughout the state. The current transparency standard does not sufficiently protect seagrasses, and the new standard will help DEP identify waters in which transparency is too low for healthy seagrass beds. A workshop of experts was convened by DEP to determine what factors affect light in seagrass beds, and what transparency criteria have already been established for individual systems. This newsletter summarizes that workshop and discusses how DEP will use this knowledge to set transparency criteria for seagrasses in Florida.
Latest IAN Peer Reviewed Papers - UMCES Publications DatabaseA searchable database of 3419 publications by scientists at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.Oyster and Macroalgae Bioindicators Detect Elevated δ15N in Maryland’s Coastal Bays (2009) Estuaries Coasts (abstract)
Effects of sediment organic content and hydrodynamic conditions on the growth and distribution of Zostera marina (2009) Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. (abstract)
Development and evaluation of a spatially-explicit index of Chesapeake Bay health (2009) Mar. Poll. Bull. (abstract)
Spatial and temporal variability of ribotyping results at a small watershed in South Carolina (2008) Water Res. (abstract)
Latest Online Seminar
Biological response to ecosystem change in the northern Bering and Chukchi Seas (abstract)
Jacqueline Grebmeier (UMCES CBL)
This seminar is now available for viewing in a flash multimedia (slides and audio) and PDF (slides only) formats from the Chesapeake Bay Seminar Series website, along with further details and other seminars in the series. For those of you who are too busy to watch the webcasts, we also have a Podcast (mp3, audio only version) so you can listen to the seminars during your daily commute.
Latest report
Report card for the Mesoamerican reef
This report describes the health of the Mesoamerican Reef by identifying key indicators and calculating an Integrated Reef Health Index. Additionally, it evaluates the human footprint and social well-being of the local community. Finally, it provides recommendations for government, NGOs, private, and research sectors for future work.
Latest poster
Oyster δ15N as a bioindicator of waste nitrogen and degraded water quality in a sub-estuary of Chesapeake Bay
Once nitrogen from wastewater treatment plants and septic systems enters aquatic ecosystems, it is difficult to distinguish it from other sources contributing to degradation. The Monie Bay sub-estuary of Chesapeake Bay, just south of Wicomico River, is situated within the Chesapeake Bay (Maryland) National Estuarine Research Reserve. Monie Bay receives freshwater inputs from three creeks varying in watershed size and land use: residential septic systems (Monie Creek), crop fertilizer (Little Monie Creek), and wetlands/forest (Little Creek). Differences in oyster δ15N were used to identify different waste nitrogen sources.
Free Vector Symbol LibrariesThe IAN symbol libraries contain over 1500 custom made vector symbols (in 32 categories) designed specifically for enhancing science communication skills. Also includes 100+ custom swatches, ecosystem landscape diagrams, interactive multimedia tutorial, PDF index of all symbols, EPS & SVG versions for non-Illustrator users, symbol creation service, symbol contributions forum, discussion forum, instructional movie, and example publications.
