Consumer-driven disturbance plagues ecosystems worldwide, and when high densities of consumers aggregate at the edge of a resource, they form consumer fronts. Our study tests four potential drivers of consumer fronts created by the purple marsh crab, Sesarma reticulatum, as it consumes Spartina alterniflora. Sesarma consumer fronts form at the heads of tidal creeks and create distinct zonation between the short-form Spartina high marsh and the tall-form Spartina low marsh as they move landward. This directional propagation inland allows tall-form Spartina to revegetate, enhancing ecosystem resilience and preventing marsh loss. We used a series of surveys and experiments to test how sediment characteristics, environmental conditions, predation pressure, and plant forage quality influenced Sesarma consumer front movement.  (Wittyngham & Johnson, in review)