VERB + EELGRASS
devastated
EELGRASS + NOUN
habitats, population
PREP.
down, up
ADV.
also
noun
Any of several species of aquatic plant, with very long and narrow leaves
European green crabs have devastated eelgrass habitats, digging up native vegetation as they burrow for shelter or dig for prey.
The eelgrass population is down 50 percent in places the crabs have moved into and some sites have suffered total collapse.
The loss of eelgrass also means these underwater meadows soak up less planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.