Naiads are herbaceous, annual plants that do not require large quantities of light for growth. Naiads expanded their range south and east (Figure 5.4) and were reported at twice as many stations in 1995 as in 1976 (Table 5.3). They were most abundant in muddy fine-grained areas along the western and northern boundaries of the Bay, usually in water less than 2 m deep. Increased distribution and abundance may be a direct result of increased light transparency from zebra mussel filtration (Petrie and Knapton 1999), and/or an increase in the amount of fine-grained sediments on the Bay. Both species provide an important waterfowl food at Long Point (see section 5.3) and throughout North America (Martin and Uhler 1935). Consequently, the increased availability of this preferred food source is probably nutritionally advantageous to waterfowl that stage at Long Point.