The federal government will foot the bill for a new study of the Chesapeake Bay’s microorganisms, U.S. Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-Md.) announced Monday.

The one-year, $100,000 study will focus on microorganisms, not the more-studied oysters and crabs, to see how they impact the bay environment.

Ruppersberger said the study will be the first of its kind. The Bay supports more than 28 million jobs in the fishing, seafood, aquaculture, tourism and recreation industries, according to Ruppersberger. — Liz Essley