#coastal

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Reforming Spartina alterniflora policies for sustainable coastal resilience: an evidence-based adaptive strategy

China’s response to 82,000-hectare invasion of S. alterniflora includes the Special Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of S. alterniflora (2022−2025)7, issued by multiple ministries to control the species by 2025 through a four-year eradication campaign. As of September 2024, over 80% of invaded areas were cleared using physical methods (e.g., manual uprooting, mechanical excavation, smothering), because they are regarded as faster speed and lower ecological risk compared to chemical, biological, or integrated controls (Supplementary S2). However, physical removal is costly, labor-intensive, and requires repeated interventions, with regrowth documented in Shandong, Shanghai, and Zhejiang. Physical methods also cause substantial ecological disturbances, damaging benthic habitats and invertebrate communities. For instance, China Green Express reported that large-scale removal in Tianjin reduced populations of the vulnerable Relic Gull (Ichthyaetus relictus), an IUCN Red List species. Sediment disturbance releases carbon-, nitrogen- and sulfur-containing gases (e.g., CH4, NH3, H2S), compromising habitat quality (Supplementary S2)8. Moreover, without post-removal management, such as native plant restoration, regrowth undermines long-term effectiveness. The adverse impacts of invasive species control measures have received minimal attention9. China’s 18,000-km mainland coastline, spanning 22 degrees of latitude, divides at Hangzhou Bay into northern tidal flats and southern mangroves with distinct landscape (Supplementary S3)...

www.audubon.org

Surviving the Storm: Tropical Storm Impacts on Coastal Birds

When Florida’s coastal residents get word of an incoming “tropical storm,” they likely only consider the minor inconveniences that follow: double red flags, no swimming due to rough waves and rip currents, potentially flooded roads, and the inevitable post-storm cleanup. What receives far less attention is the lasting impact these storms can have on the wildlife that also share our beaches. While sea turtles are often the first species that come to mind when discussing storm impacts, they aren’t the only ones affected: coastal nesting birds, including Black Skimmers and Least Terns, also call Florida’s beaches their temporary home. From April to August, these birds return to the Gulf Coast for their breeding season. They work hard to find quiet stretches of sand where they can form nesting groups called colonies, lay eggs, and raise their chicks. Unlike many birds that build their nests in trees or bushes, Black Skimmers and Least Terns nest directly on the sand. Their nests, called scrapes, are small and shallow with just enough room for the eggs to fit directly under the adult. The speckled coloration of their eggs and the shallow scrapes create incredible camouflage. As a result, their eggs blend in almost...