A century of beachgrass invasions: A tale of an epic transformation of our coastline and its future consequences

A century ago, two non-native beachgrass species (European beachgrass Ammophila arenaria and American beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata) were intentionally planted on the Pacific coast to stabilize the extensive shifting sand beach and dune environment. The result was a landscape level transformation with consequences for coastal hazard mitigation, carbon storage, recreation, and native species conservation. In this presentation, Dr. Sally Hacker discusses the past, present, and future of US Pacific Northwest dunes, highlighting a suite of interdisciplinary field, laboratory, and modeling studies focused on the ecology of the beachgrasses, their spread, and the mechanisms of ecosystem transformation in the context of global change. She also discusses attempts to restore dunes to their native state and a recently discovered “super beachgrass” species, formed from the hybridization of the two non-native grass species. 

Sally D. Hacker is a Professor at Oregon State University, Corvallis, where she has been a faculty member since 2004. Dr. Hacker’s research explores the structure, function, and services of natural and managed coastal ecosystems including rocky intertidal, estuarine, and coastal dune habitats. Her work most recently focuses on the role of coastal plants in building dunes and mitigating coastal hazards. In addition to the textbooks Ecology (Oxford University Press) and Life: The Science of Biology (Macmillan), she is an author or coauthor on numerous articles and book chapters exploring themes in coastal community ecology and the role of coastal ecosystems in mitigating global change.

For more information about the Hacker Lab and Dr. NHacker's research, please see https://www.sallyhacker.org.