Coastal dune stabilization & erosion-prevention during Superstorm Sandy: A comparison of native American beachgrass & invasive Asiatic sand sedge

Dominant Atlantic dune stabilizing grasses, native Ammophila breviligulata and invasive Carex kobomugi were compared at Island Beach State Park, New Jersey. Morphologically they are very different, but ecophysiologically, both were equally adapted to handle the stress of the primary dune habitat. Superstorm Sandy dune loss varied based on the species fronting the dune and pre-Sandy beach length and height, both of which were greater for C. kobomugi; although C. kobomugi is ecologically detrimental, regarding coastal protection, the species may be beneficial; dunes fronted by C. kobomugi suffered less Sandy erosion. These findings are contrary to past anecdotal notions that dunes supported by C. kobomugi were more prone to breaching. Dunes will continue to be our economical and most natural form of coastal defense; the lessons learned in this study from Superstorm Sandy should be applied rapidly to future dune management decisions relating to both natural and artificial dune construction.