Many coastal plants are specifically adapted to take advantage of the dynamic nature of sediment transport, having become adept ecological engineers in terms of capturing sediment, elevating the substrate, and progressing succession.  Our lab’s work has shown that specialized dune species cause sand to fall out of suspension and form embryonic dunes.  Some of my lab’s recent work has detailed the role of geomorphic alteration via engineering processes by the low marsh dominant Spartina alterniflora.  We have also been quantifying the effect of Sargassum spp. algae on beach geomorphology.