In the vast stretches of Georgia's saltwater marshes, where the land whispers to the ocean, a silent yet profound battle is waged beneath the surface. It's a struggle for survival and resilience, where the unassuming cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, emerges as an ecological champion. But not without the help of its unseen allies-the intricate microbial communities thriving within its roots. Recent studies by Georgia Tech researchers, including School of Biological Sciences Professor and Associate Chair of Research Joel Kostka, have unveiled the pivotal role these microbes play in not only sustaining the cordgrass but also in bolstering the health of the entire coastal ecosystem. These findings, published in Nature Communications, shed light on the complex interplay between plant and microbe, revealing a symbiotic relationship that is as delicate as it is powerful. (This also appeared at Mirage News and  Phys.org.)