Catching rides on cargo ships and fishing boats, many invasive species are now covering our shorelines and compromising the existence of our native marine life. In a study published in Ecology Letters, Northeastern University Prof. David Kimbro and his team examine what factors allow some invasive species to survive in their new environments and others to fail.
Oyster reefs and sandy beaches have historically bordered many picturesque coastlines. But in an effort to prevent erosion, coastal developers are increasingly replacing these living shorelines with rocks and seawalls.
In the Pacific Northwest, beach grass communities often create sand dunes that mitigate coastal erosion and flooding risks stemming from rising sea levels caused by climate change.