EcoCheck

EcoCheck

Ecocheck is part of the Integration and Application Network, with a focus on ecosystem health reporting. EcoCheck’s primary mission is to enhance and support the science, management, and restoration of Chesapeake Bay.

EcoCheck accomplishes its mission by focusing on integration of geographically detailed assessments and forecasts of Chesapeake Bay ecosystem health and creating timely and scientifically rigorous communication products through data and research synthesis. EcoCheck works with academic, federal and state regulators, and local community groups to develop tools and products to assist decision makers in achieving Chesapeake Bay restoration goals. Recently, EcoCheck’s expertise in report cards and ecological health assessments has been leveraged to develop similar assessments nationally and globally.

 

Key Personnel

Caroline Donovan
Program Manager
Jonathan Kellogg
Science Integrator
Alexandra Fries
Program Manager
Sara Powell
Monitoring & Communications Manager
Heath Kelsey
IAN Director

Learn More

BROWSE ALL

2014

2013 Chesapeake Bay report released

2013

Do not go gently into that black abyss of Chesapeake Bay monitoring cuts

Enhancing the Chesapeake Bay report card with new indicators and new methods

Celebrating 100 Years of Industrial Nitrogen Fixation

Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy report card launch

Everything Down the Drain - Why?

Great Barrier Reef literacy

Better ways to look at what we’re doing to Chesapeake Bay?

Ending a NOAA partnership and beginning a new EcoCheck chapter

2012

Mississippi River Report Card Vision and Framework

Chesapeake Bay 2011 report card release at Baltimore Harbor

Assessing the vulnerability of the Great Barrier Reef to climate change

Environmental report card workshop in Surfers Paradise, Australia

Streamlining environmental reporting in the Pacific region

Nutrient trading in Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake citizens are well informed: New poll results of Maryland public perception of Chesapeake Bay restoration

2011

Stoplight colors for environmental report cards

2010

How maps can lie: Chesapeake watershed stream health

Coastal Bays report card release

The Next Frontier: Ecological Forecasting

Chesapeake Bay report card release

Environmental report card grading system

Citizen Science Programs

2009

Our next book on coastal ecosystem assessment

Water quality monitoring with the Chester River Association

EcoCheck and the Maryland Coastal Bays Program release Coastal Bays Report Card

BROWSE ALL

2016

Chesapeake Bay receives a score of C in 2016 (JUNE)

2015

Chesapeake Bay health improved in 2014 (OCTOBER)

2014

Baltimore Healthy Harbor Report Card scores a 51% for 2013 (AUGUST)

Chesapeake Bay health remains steady in 2013 (JUNE)

2013

2012 Chesapeake Bay report card (JULY)

Chesapeake Bay dissolved oxygen forecast for summer 2013 (JULY)

Maryland Coastal Bays report card 2012 (JULY)

Baltimore Healthy Harbor Report Card rates a C- for 2012 (JUNE)

Sampling and data analysis protocols for Mid-Atlantic non-tidal stream indicators (JUNE)

Old Woman Creek and Pipe Creek Report Cards (APRIL)

Chesapeake Bay Report Card Photo Contest (MARCH)

The 2nd Annual Chesapeake Bay Report Card Photo Contest (FEBRUARY)

EcoCheck transition (JANUARY)

2012

Marine Protected Areas: Guiding principles and benefits (NOVEMBER)

Measuring effectiveness of Best Management Practices (NOVEMBER)

Rising to the Challenge: A National Park Service brochure (NOVEMBER)

A vision for America's Great Watershed Report Card (OCTOBER)

Improving management of a Mid-Atlantic coastal barrier island through assessment of habitat condition (OCTOBER)

Shenandoah National Park natural resource condition assessment underway (OCTOBER)

Assessing watershed health in Pipe Creek and Old Woman Creek, Ohio (SEPTEMBER)

A vision for effective and streamlined reporting in the Pacific (AUGUST)

Chesapeake Bay Summer Forecast 2012 (JULY)

Colonial National Historical Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment (JULY)

Samoa 2012 Environmental Outlook: developing a vision for the next 50 years (JULY)

A Habitat-Based Framework for Communicating Natural Resource Condition (JUNE)

The coastal syndromes and hotspots on the coast (JUNE)

2011 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (MAY)

Assessing the vulnerability of the Great Barrier Reef to climate change (APRIL)

Environmental report card workshop in Surfers Paradise, Australia (APRIL)

Streamlining environmental reporting in the Pacific region (APRIL)

2010 Trust Fund Water Quality Monitoring Strategy (MARCH)

Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund (MARCH)

Photo competition reminder (MARCH)

Bacteria sampling and data analysis protocol (FEBRUARY)

The 1st Annual Chesapeake Bay Report Card Photo Contest (FEBRUARY)

2011

Chesapeake Bay Summer Review (NOVEMBER)

Global Summit on Coastal Seas conference (SEPTEMBER)

2010 Maryland Coastal Bays report card (JULY)

2011 Chesapeake Bay dissolved oxygen forecast (JULY)

Sampling and Data Analysis Protocols for Mid-Atlantic Tidal Tributary Indicators (JUNE)

Total Maximum Daily Loads: A citizen's guide to the Chesapeake Bay TMDL (JUNE)

Chesapeake Bay Report Card 2010 (MAY)

Melissa Andreychek moves to New York (MAY)

2010 Magothy River Index (MARCH)

2010

Expanding the diversity of the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Assessment Coalition (DECEMBER)

Nanticoke and Sassafras River report cards released (DECEMBER)

2010 Chesapeake Bay summer conditions better than average (NOVEMBER)

Blue Crab Status Report (NOVEMBER)

Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay: a retrospective newsletter (SEPTEMBER)

Chesapeake Bay Forecast 2010 (JULY)

Maryland Coastal Bays Report Card 2009 (JULY)

Chesapeake Bay Report Card 2009 (JUNE)

New EcoCheck Intern - Melissa Andreychek (JUNE)

A Guide to the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Report Cards (MAY)

IAN and EcoCheck bid farewell to Emily Nauman (MARCH)

New EcoCheck Science Communicator - Sara Powell (MARCH)

Beach bacteria models integrate remote sensing and IOOS data to protect public health (FEBRUARY)

New EcoCheck intern - Christine Thurber (FEBRUARY)

2009

Research findings for key bay fisheries species (OCTOBER)

Maryland Coastal Bays Report Card (JULY)

Sediment organic content, hydrodynamics, and seagrasses (MAY)

Chesapeake Bay Report Card and Stream Health Newsletter (APRIL)

Individual tributary report cards produced for the Chester, Patuxent, and Severn Rivers (APRIL)

Heath Kelsey joins IAN's EcoCheck team (MARCH)

2008

EcoCheck 2008 Summer Review (NOVEMBER)

Regional report card project initiated (NOVEMBER)

Research to improve management of Atlantic menhaden in Chesapeake Bay - newsletter (NOVEMBER)

2008 Chesapeake Bay summer forecast released (JULY)

Environmental report cards: A tool for better management, monitoring, and research (JUNE)

Chester and Patuxent River Report cards released (MAY)

2007 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (APRIL)

EcoCheck website summarizes Chesapeake Bay summer conditions (FEBRUARY)

Asian oysters: Science to inform policy decisions (JANUARY)

2007

A summer of poor water clarity, algal blooms, and fish kills (Summer lookback newsletter) (DECEMBER)

Incorporating habitat into ecosystem-based fisheries management (DECEMBER)

Eutrophication report released at the National Press Club (AUGUST)

Dissolved oxygen forecast update (JULY)

2007 Chesapeake Bay summer ecological forecast (JUNE)

Breath of life: Dissolved oxygen in Chesapeake Bay (JUNE)

2006 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (MAY)

Calculating the 2006 Chesapeake Bay report card scores (MAY)

Summer forecast award ceremony raises a laugh (JANUARY)

2006

Ecosystem-based fisheries management newsletter (DECEMBER)

Weather extremes lead to typical conditions (Summer lookback newsletter) (NOVEMBER)

Early summer rain event newsletter (SEPTEMBER)

Ecosystem health report cards: An approach to integrated assessment (SEPTEMBER)

Job Vacancies (SEPTEMBER)

Summer ecological forecast released (JUNE)

EcoCheck newsletter (MAY)

Menhaden newsletter (MAY)

Ecological Forecasting Symposium (JANUARY)

New IAN Personnel (JANUARY)

2005

Summer water quality and aquatic grass wrap-up (DECEMBER)

Summer 2005 ecological forecast has mixed accuracy (OCTOBER)

Wanted: Science Applications Coordinator (SEPTEMBER)

Summer ecological forecast (JUNE)

BROWSE ALL

2014

Flow Capacity for the Mississippi River (GRAPHIC)

Main Threats and Key Features of the Ohio River Basin (GRAPHIC)

Main Threats and Key Features of the Upper Mississippi River Sub-Basin (GRAPHIC)

Ohio River Basin Land Use (GRAPHIC)

Mississippi River Report Card Workshop Timeline (GRAPHIC)

Potential Indicators for the Ohio River Basin (GRAPHIC)

Threats and Features of the Lower Mississippi River Basin (GRAPHIC)

Chilika Lake Pollution Pressure (GRAPHIC)

Chilika Lake Tourism Pressure (GRAPHIC)

Lower Mississippi Land Cover Map (GRAPHIC)

Lower Mississippi Workshop Connections (GRAPHIC)

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Percipitation Map 2013 (GRAPHIC)

Chilika Lake Fishing and Aquaculture Pressures (GRAPHIC)

Chilika Lake Sedimentation (GRAPHIC)

Road salt truck (SYMBOL)

Coastal Wetlands Resilience to Climate Change Comparison (GRAPHIC)

Human-caused and natural vulnerabilities of Chesapeake Bay to climate impacts (GRAPHIC)

2013

Rain barrel (PHOTO)

Rain barrel (PHOTO)

Rain barrel with downspout (PHOTO)

Conductivity (SYMBOL)

Inputs: bacteria (SYMBOL)

Inputs: conductivity (SYMBOL)

Inputs: trash (SYMBOL)

Mine drainage (SYMBOL)

Snowman (SYMBOL)

Snowman: melted (SYMBOL)

2012

Lady Maryland (PHOTO)

Living Classrooms water quality demonstration (PHOTO)

Living Classrooms water quality demonstration (PHOTO)

Living Classrooms water quality demonstration (PHOTO)

Living Classrooms water quality demonstration (PHOTO)

Living Classrooms water quality demonstration (PHOTO)

Living Classrooms water quality demonstration (PHOTO)

Marine trash removal (PHOTO)

Marine trash removal (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Marsh Plants (PHOTO)

Marsh Plants (PHOTO)

Rain barrel (GRAPHIC)

Enjoying the Bay (PHOTO)

Ghost Pot (PHOTO)

Underwater Tree (PHOTO)

Baeolophus bicolor (Tufted Titmouse) (PHOTO)

2011

A Lonely Boat (PHOTO)

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (PHOTO)

Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) (PHOTO)

Dredging for Oysters (PHOTO)

Chrysemys picta (pinted turtle) sitting in the sun (PHOTO)

Setting the Trotline (PHOTO)

Bald Cypress Knees (PHOTO)

Elliotts Island Road (PHOTO)

Elliotts Island Road (PHOTO)

Affects of tropical storm Irene (PHOTO)

No Littering (PHOTO)

Fishing Rod (PHOTO)

Ocypode (Ghost Crab) (PHOTO)

Chrysemys picta (Painted turtle) (PHOTO)

Aythya valisineria (Canvasback) in flight (PHOTO)

Ardeidae (Heron) perched on a skiff (PHOTO)

Pandion haliaetus (Osprey) (PHOTO)

Pandion haliaetus (Osprey) (PHOTO)

2010

Line Fishing Tackle (PHOTO)

River Sunset (PHOTO)

Perch (PHOTO)

Scallop Dredger mechanics (PHOTO)

Juvenile Chrysemys Picta Bellii (Painted Turtle) (PHOTO)

Hills Beach (PHOTO)

Hills Beach (PHOTO)

Hills Beach (PHOTO)

Hills Beach (PHOTO)

Hills Beach (PHOTO)

Hills Beach (PHOTO)

Hills Beach (PHOTO)

Hills Beach (PHOTO)

Saco Bay (PHOTO)

Tree Rings (PHOTO)

2009

Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) (PHOTO)

Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) (PHOTO)

Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) (PHOTO)

Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) (PHOTO)

Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) (PHOTO)

Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) (PHOTO)

Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) (PHOTO)

Cetorhinus maximus (Basking Shark) gills (PHOTO)

Eye lense of Basking Shark (PHOTO)

Heart ventricle (PHOTO)

Pharynx and esophagus of Basking Shark (PHOTO)

Stomach contents (PHOTO)

Naval Academy (PHOTO)

Osprey Nest (PHOTO)

2008 Chesapeake Bay Report Card Press Release (PHOTO)

Testing Water quality (PHOTO)

Testing Water quality (PHOTO)

Beach Warning Flags (PHOTO)

Coastal Bird Nesting Area (PHOTO)

Healthy Beaches Program (PHOTO)

Protected Dune Area (PHOTO)

2008

Sandy Point Water Tower (PHOTO)

Boathouse (PHOTO)

Fish Seining (PHOTO)

Fish Seining (PHOTO)

Fish Seining (PHOTO)

Fish Seining (PHOTO)

Fish Seining (PHOTO)

Fish Seining (PHOTO)

Fish Seining (PHOTO)

Fish Seining (PHOTO)

Hard Shoreline (PHOTO)

Soft Shoreline (PHOTO)

Line Fishing (PHOTO)

Measuring a striped bass (PHOTO)

Morone saxatilis (Striped Bass) (PHOTO)

Morone saxatilis (Striped Bass) (PHOTO)

Striped Bass Gils (PHOTO)

2007 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (PHOTO)

2007 Chesapeake Bay Report Card Press Release (PHOTO)

2007 Chesapeake Bay Report Card Press Release (PHOTO)

2007 Chesapeake Bay Report Card Press Release (PHOTO)

2007 Chesapeake Bay Report Card Press Release (PHOTO)

2007 Chesapeake Bay Report Card Press Release (PHOTO)

2007 Chesapeake Bay Report Card Press Release (PHOTO)

2007

Components of habitat (GRAPHIC)

Components of the Asian Oyster Environment Impact Statement (GRAPHIC)

Oyster disease prevalence (GRAPHIC)

Sources and survival of bacteria in the water column (GRAPHIC)

Limulus polyphemus (Horseshoe Crab) (PHOTO)

Habitat squeeze (GRAPHIC)

Benthic-pelagic coupling (GRAPHIC)

Healthy versus unhealthy Maryland Coastal Bays (GRAPHIC)

Hypoxia and Anoxia (GRAPHIC)

2006

Ecosystem based fisheries management (GRAPHIC)

2005

Environmental conditions that lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs) (GRAPHIC)

Environmental factors that control aquatic grass distribution (GRAPHIC)

1969

2008 Maryland Coastal Bays Report Card (PHOTO)

Chesapeake Bay Bridge (PHOTO)

Floating Wetlands event (PHOTO)

Mississippi River Watershed Map (GRAPHIC)

Stato-acoustic Organ (PHOTO)

BROWSE ALL

2017

2016 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2016

2015 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2015

2014 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2014

2013 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2013

2012 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2012 Maryland Coastal Bays report card (REPORT CARD)

Baltimore Healthy Harbor Report Card 2012 (REPORT CARD)

Sampling and data analysis protocols for Mid-Atlantic non-tidal stream indicators (REPORT)

2012 Chester River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2013 West & Rhode Rivers Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2012 Report Card - Eastern Bay, Choptank, Miles, and Wye Rivers (REPORT CARD)

2012 Old Woman Creek Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2012 Pipe Creek Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2012

2011 Maryland Coastal Bays report card (REPORT CARD)

Measuring effectiveness of Best Management Practices (NEWSLETTER)

Healthy Harbor Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2011 Nanticoke River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

Colonial National Historical Park natural resource condition assessment (REPORT)

Samoa 2012 Environmental Outlook: developing a vision for the next 50 years (REPORT CARD)

Samoa 2012 Environmental Outlook: developing a vision for the next 50 years (Samoan) (REPORT CARD)

Focus Group Evaluation of Tributary Report Cards (REPORT)

2011 Chester River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2011 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (REPORT CARD)

State of the Anacostia River - 2011 (REPORT CARD)

Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund (NEWSLETTER)

2011 Magothy River Index (REPORT CARD)

South East Queensland Floods 2011 (NEWSLETTER)

Bacteria sampling and data analysis protocol addendum for Mid-Atlantic tidal tributary indicators (REPORT)

2011

Baltimore Harbor's Ecological and Human Health: 2010 (REPORT CARD)

State of Baltimore Harbor's Ecological and Human Health: 2010 (REPORT)

A vision for the Gulf of Mexico Report Card (NEWSLETTER)

2011 Sassafras River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

Gulf of Mexico Report Card Initiative (REPORT)

Great Barrier Reef Report Card Summary - 2009 Baseline (REPORT CARD)

Great Barrier Reef Report Card Regional Summaries - 2009 Baseline (REPORT CARD)

Great Barrier Reef Technical Report Card - 2009 Baseline (REPORT CARD)

2010 Nanticoke River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

Antietam National Battlefield Natural Resource Condition Assessment (REPORT)

Manassas National Battlefield Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment (REPORT)

Monocacy National Battlefield Natural Resource Condition Assessment (REPORT)

Antietam National Battlefield Natural Resource Condition Assessment - Executive Summary (REPORT)

Antietam National Battlefield Natural Resource Condition Assessment Resource Brief (BROCHURE)

Manassas National Battlefield Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment - Executive Summary (REPORT)

Manassas National Battlefield Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment Resource Brief (BROCHURE)

Monocacy National Battlefield Natural Resource Condition Assessment - Executive Summary (REPORT)

Monocacy National Battlefield Natural Resource Condition Assessment Resource Brief (BROCHURE)

2010 Chester River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2010 Maryland Coastal Bays report card (REPORT CARD)

Assateague Island National Seashore Natural Resource Condition Assessment (REPORT)

Assateague Island National Seashore Natural Resource Condition Assessment - Executive Summary (REPORT)

Total Maximum Daily Loads (NEWSLETTER)

Sampling and data analysis protocols for Mid-Atlantic tidal tributary indicators (REPORT)

South East Queensland Floods 2011 (NEWSLETTER)

Chesapeake Bay Report Card 2010 (REPORT CARD)

2011 West & Rhode Rivers Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2011 South River Scorecard (REPORT CARD)

Deep Creek Lake Baseline Condition Assessment (NEWSLETTER)

Deep Creek Lake Baseline Assessment Report (REPORT)

South East Queensland Floods 2011 (NEWSLETTER)

South East Queensland Floods 2011 (NEWSLETTER)

2010 Magothy River Index (REPORT CARD)

2010

2009 Sassafras River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

Expanding the diversity of the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Assessment Coalition (POSTER)

2009 Nanticoke River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

Blue Crab Status Report (NEWSLETTER)

Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay: A Retrospective (NEWSLETTER)

Maryland Coastal Bays Report Card 2009 (REPORT CARD)

2009 Chester River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

Chesapeake Bay Report Card 2009 (REPORT CARD)

A Guide to the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Report Cards (NEWSLETTER)

2009 Magothy River Index (REPORT CARD)

2009

Research findings for key bay fisheries species (NEWSLETTER)

Rock Creek Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment (REPORT)

2008 Coastal Bays report card (REPORT CARD)

South Caucasus region transboundary report card (REPORT CARD)

South Caucasus region transboundary report card (Russian) (REPORT CARD)

2008 Chesapeake Bay Report Card (REPORT CARD)

New Stream Health Indicator Being Developed (NEWSLETTER)

2008 Severn River report card (REPORT CARD)

2008 Chester River report card (REPORT CARD)

2008 Patuxent River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2008

Research to improve management of Atlantic menhaden in Chesapeake Bay (NEWSLETTER)

2007 Patuxent River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

2007 Chester River Report Card (REPORT CARD)

Chesapeake Bay 2007: Land Use and the Chesapeake Bay Report Card (NEWSLETTER)

Chesapeake Bay Health Report Card: 2007 (REPORT CARD)

2007

A summer of poor water clarity, algal blooms, and fish kills (NEWSLETTER)

Incorporating habitat into ecosystem-based fisheries management: Habitat matters! (NEWSLETTER)

Asian oysters: Science to inform policy decisions (NEWSLETTER)

Effects of nutrient enrichment in the Nation's estuaries: A decade of change (REPORT)

Chesapeake Bay 2007: Summer Ecological Forecast (NEWSLETTER)

Breath of Life: Dissolved oxygen in Chesapeake Bay (NEWSLETTER)

Future directions in fisheries management: An ecosystem-based approach (POSTER)

Measuring the Health of our National Parks: Rock Creek Park (NEWSLETTER)

Calculating the 2006 Chesapeake Bay report card scores (NEWSLETTER)

Chesapeake Bay Habitat Health Report Card: 2006 (REPORT CARD)

Development of an Integrated and Spatially Explicit Index of Chesapeake Bay Health (Bay Habitat Health Index - BHHI) (REPORT)

The role of benthic communities in the health of Maryland's Coastal Bays (NEWSLETTER)

2006

Antietam National Battlefield (POSTER)

Manassas National Battlefield Park (POSTER)

Monocacy National Battlefield Park (POSTER)

Rock Creek Park (POSTER)

Future directions of fisheries management: An ecosystem-based approach (NEWSLETTER)

Weather extremes lead to typical conditions (NEWSLETTER)

Investigating menhaden recruitment variability: Modeling the relationship between striped bass recovery and menhaden recruitment (NEWSLETTER)

Early summer rain event (NEWSLETTER)

MASC Newsletter 5 - Ecological Forecast, Summer 2006 (NEWSLETTER)

EcoCheck (NEWSLETTER)

2005

MASC Newsletter 4 - Water Quality and Aquatic Grass Wrap Up (NEWSLETTER)

Summer 2005 ecological forecast technical documentation (REPORT)

MASC Newsletter 3 - Ecological Forecast, Aquatic Grass in 2005 (NEWSLETTER)

MASC Newsletter 2 - Ecological Forecast, Summer 2005 (NEWSLETTER)

Redesign of Chesapeake Bay Program indicator structure and communication strategy: Goals, rationale and products (REPORT)

MASC Newsletter 1 - Water Quality 2004 (NEWSLETTER)

Timeframe

  • Start: 2006-06-01
  • Finish: 2017-05-31
  • Duration: 10 years, 11 months

Websites

https://ecoreportcard.org/

Funding Agencies

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Locations

Chesapeake Bay