What is Spartina?
In British Columbia, 'Spartina' refers to a group of invasive cordgrasses which threaten to irreparably damage its coastal ecosystems. There are three species of Spartina presently found in BC: S. anglica, S. densiflora, and S. patens. All three species negatively impact coastal habitat in similar ways.
Once a clone of Spartina takes root, it begins to grow and spread aggressively. This is the nature of many invasive plants: to rapidly outcompete and replace any and all native plants in an area. What separates Spartina from other invasive species is the unique way it distorts and degrades the habitats it infests.
Due to its unique rhizome growth, Spartina root systems accrete suspended sediments in water. This accretion quickly builds up and alters the topography of mudflat and estuarine habitats. Continued accretion can result in converting these habitats into raised monoculture meadows of Spartina. Spartina not only dominates native species, but actively ensures that it remains dominant by altering the environment which it infests.
Once a clone of Spartina takes root, it begins to grow and spread aggressively. This is the nature of many invasive plants: to rapidly outcompete and replace any and all native plants in an area. What separates Spartina from other invasive species is the unique way it distorts and degrades the habitats it infests.
Due to its unique rhizome growth, Spartina root systems accrete suspended sediments in water. This accretion quickly builds up and alters the topography of mudflat and estuarine habitats. Continued accretion can result in converting these habitats into raised monoculture meadows of Spartina. Spartina not only dominates native species, but actively ensures that it remains dominant by altering the environment which it infests.
Why should we care?
The health of our coastal ecosystems is of paramount importance in British Columbia. Our economy is greatly supported by the harvest and tourism that these coastal ecosystems generate. Our coastal ecosystems are a great cultural importance to both the indigenous and non-indigenous populations that live along the Pacific Coast. The coastal ecosystems that are threatened by a Spartina invasion are a key ally to the fight against Climate Change. In a world where climates are changing, it is vitally important we do our part to maintain the health of our ecosystems, that which invasive species like Spartina threaten to compromise.
A key factor that determines the health of an ecosystem is the diversity of the organisms within it. In a healthy ecosystem, countless species interact, influence, and even rely on countless others. We see such interconnectivity and diversity in the ecosystems that help make up British Columbia's 25,000+ kilometres of coastline. It is the diversity of these ecosystems that Spartina threatens.
The Fraser River Delta is a flourishing ecosystem made up of a mosaic of estuaries, mud flats, eel grass beds, and salt marshes. From late September to May, the delta is home to the largest collection of staging and wintering waterfowl in all of Canada.
The Fraser River Delta is also a key checkpoint for the 5 species of salmon endemic to the Pacific West Coast. Its estuaries and eelgrass beds provide the refuges these fish need to acclimatize from fresh to salt water and vice versa. With its abundance of fish and bird life, as well as the countless other species that thrive there, it is no wonder that the delta is considered to be one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. The BC Spartina Working Group is committed to maintaining the health of this precious ecosystem for years to come.
A key factor that determines the health of an ecosystem is the diversity of the organisms within it. In a healthy ecosystem, countless species interact, influence, and even rely on countless others. We see such interconnectivity and diversity in the ecosystems that help make up British Columbia's 25,000+ kilometres of coastline. It is the diversity of these ecosystems that Spartina threatens.
The Fraser River Delta is a flourishing ecosystem made up of a mosaic of estuaries, mud flats, eel grass beds, and salt marshes. From late September to May, the delta is home to the largest collection of staging and wintering waterfowl in all of Canada.
The Fraser River Delta is also a key checkpoint for the 5 species of salmon endemic to the Pacific West Coast. Its estuaries and eelgrass beds provide the refuges these fish need to acclimatize from fresh to salt water and vice versa. With its abundance of fish and bird life, as well as the countless other species that thrive there, it is no wonder that the delta is considered to be one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. The BC Spartina Working Group is committed to maintaining the health of this precious ecosystem for years to come.
How do I identify Spartina?
Spartina anglica (English cordgrass)
ECOLOGY
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Spartina densiflora (dense flowered cordgrass)
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Spartina patens (salt meadow cordgrass)
ECOLOGY
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