Why is Spartina a problem?
Spartina is transforming native mudflats and salt marshes into monotypic Spartina upland meadows in coastal Washington State. As an aggressive colonizer, Spartina displaces native plants and animals historically associated with Puget Sound, such as eelgrass and macroalgae. A study of out-migrating juvenile chum salmon determined that eelgrass and its associated algae are the basis of the food web for this species in the estuary (Simenstad and Wissmar, 1985). In addition, Spartina meadows facilitate increased sedimentation and can dramatically incease tide flat elevation. The Washington State Conservation Commission recently identified Spartina as a threat to salmonid survival in the Stillaguamish and Island County WRIAs (Water Resource Inventory Areas). Shellfish species that depend on historical abiotic factors cannot survive with increased sedimentation and tide flat elevation. A primary factor contributing to species endangerment is habitat destruction and a secondary factor is intr
