Greenwich Bay

Animals in the Greenwich Bay area range from tiny zooplankton to large seasonal visitors such as osprey.

Perhaps the best way to understand the animal life of Greenwich Bay is to look at it in terms of different communities. Although all animal and plant life, along with all the abiotic (nonliving) factors (such as salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen) together make Greenwich Bay make one big community, animals in each separate area share certain characteristics.

At the Surface

Zooplankton are animals, usually tiny, that float at the surface of the bay. Birds also swim and feed at the surface.

In the Water Column

The nektonic community, or middle of the water column, is made up of animals that are strong swimmers. Many fish are part of this community, for example:

Blue Fish

Striped Bass

Tautog

Scup

Menhaden

See detailed information on the Menhaden.

One mollusk that is sometimes mistaken for a fish is also part of the nekton community: the squid. Marine mammals (such as seals, in our area) and sea turtles are also considered to be part of the nektonic community.

Continue to what's on the bottom.