The researchers studied the types of small animals living in a bay in China and how they are affected by the environment. They found 251 different species, with worms being the most common. The number of animals and their weight slightly increased over the years, possibly because the water quality got better. The depth of the water, the amount of plant material, and the type of sediment in the bay were important factors for the animals living there. Overall, this study gives us a good starting point for understanding these small creatures in bays.