A new study by UGA scientists shows that over the last three decades, the area of Georgia’s coast covered by spartina, or marsh grass, has decreased by 35% based on satellite measurements. They attribute the decline to frequent droughts over the period, combined with increasing temperatures and increased snail activity in the latter half of the period. This is likely to negatively impact the production of young crab and shrimp as well as increase coastal erosion and protecting against storm surges. You can read an article about it at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution here or the original journal article from Remote Sensing here.
