Sudden Vegetation Dieback

Project Lead: Makayla Brown and David Wise | Organization: University of South Carolina Beaufort and Brays Island Stewardship Fund

Sudden vegetative dieback (SVD) is the process of the declining rate of salt marsh grasses within an ecosystem due to environmental stressors. Some stressors could include species of Fusarium, R. solani,  F. palustre, root knot nematodes, flooding/droughts, toxins within the mud, or other biotic species that live or feed on the grasses. This project intends to study the causes and ecosystem effects of SVD in the Port Royal Sound.

Project Description

Being in the Lowcountry environment, we rely on the presence of salt marsh grasses to provide essential ecosystem services like flood protection, shelter, food and nursery grounds for many coastal species. On and around Bray’s Island, many grasses have undergone dieback in different locations. Our job as biologists and interns is to study why this might be occurring. Over the summer of 2024, we will be working to find any possible causes of this vegetative dieback    

Methods

We plan to investigate the multiple stressors involved in this issue, but ultimately determine if the presence of a specific fungus is the cause of SVD of  Spartina alterniflora. Samples will be taken of Spartina alterniflora and will be analyzed for differences in DNA and indicators of root knot nematodes. These samples will be taken at three different locations; where dieback is still occurring, where new marsh grass has started growing, and areas where marsh grass was unaffected (whether from separated by a barrier or a plot of grass that was unaffected by beside the area where dieback occur). We also plan to take Pluff Mud core samples during low and high tide followed by basic water quality testing. We will also collect periwinkle snails in areas where SVD occurred and did not occur, due to the likely chance these snails directly correlate to the declining rate of marsh grass. Our research will also include any observational differences in biodiversity while we are out in the field that occurred from the dieback.

Why this is Important?

The importance of this research project is to determine and confirm the cause of SVD in the Upper Port Royal Sound and set the foundation for future research. Future research can dive deeper into the ecosystem effects of SVD and possible preventative measures to lessen the effects of SVD in the saltmarsh.

Publications and Other Resources

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SVD

Makayla and David collecting samples

SVD

Makalya and David setting transects in the marsh off of Brays Island

Drone Image SVD

Drone Image of SVD off of Brays Island