Hurricane-induced mass mortalities to a tropical subtidal algal community and subsequent recoveries

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Hurricanes David (Aug 1979) and Allen (Aug 1980) caused extensive mass mortalities in a subtidal benthic algal community. The area studied lies offshore from the southwest corner of Puerto Rico, in I? m of water, and normally supports a rich algal flora. Recolonizations proceeded with continual accumulation of species; at the scale examined, recruitment appeared to be a random process. Competitive displacement of initial colonizing species was not observed, and recoveries were qualitatively considered to be complete within 1 yr of the disturbances.