How does an invasive species threaten a vital ecosystem and why is eelgrass so important?

Green crab (Carcinus maenas) is an invasive species, with a native range from North Africa to Northern Europe. In their native range, green crab rely on common eelgrass (Zostera marina) for shelter, food, and protection like many other species. However, in their native range green crabs have natural predators that keep populations in check. Outside of Europe and North Africa, green crab is considered an invasive species and poses a threat to a wide variety of eelgrasses, including common eelgrass that’s found on both coasts of North America. In this blog post, we explore why invasive green crabs are such a big problem for eelgrass in North America.