Benthic infaunal communities were observed before and after living shoreline construction at two sites, and at control sites, in the Chesapeake Bay. Grabowski Lab graduate student, Theresa Davenport, and colleagues report that communities changed in response to shoreline alteration, and density and biomass of clams tended to increase, while density and biomass of polychaetes tended to decrease. An increase of clams is evidence of maturation in the community and an improvement in the shoreline’s ability to support higher trophic levels. (Photo courtesy MD Department of Natural Resources)