Assessment of the impacts of hurricanes Marilyn and Luis and post-hurricane recovery at Buck Island Reef National Monument as part of the longterm coral reef monitoring program in the northeastern Caribbean
Bythell J. 1998. Assessment of the impacts of hurricanes Marilyn and Luis and post-hurricane recovery at Buck Island Reef National Monument as part of the longterm coral reef monitoring program in the northeastern Caribbean. University of Newcastle; National Park Service. Newcastle
While there has been widespread concern over degradation of coral reefs, particularly those near urban centres, over the past 10-20 years it has been extremely difficult to separate natural from human-induced causes. In the well-documented and frequently-cited case of Discovery Bay, Jamaica, the decline from a luxuriant coral-dominated reef to an algaldominated community was associated with two major hurricane impacts, chronic overfishing, loss of a major herbivore (Diadema antillarum) to disease, and possibly eutrophication effects from land run-off. There are very few coral reefs which have been extensively studied that are free from these human disturbances. This report assesses the direct effects of two major hurricane impacts within six years at a protected marine park site, Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM), St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. A recent spate of hurricane activity has provided a unique case-study of severe natural disturbances on an otherwise relatively pristine coral reef system. It appears that the coral reef community is robust to the effects of repeated hurricane impacts, with species diversity higher now than before hurricane Hugo in 1989. In the absence of severe chronic impacts from human activities, recovery from hurricane disturbance appears to be rapid and comprehensive. The prognosis for continued recovery and improved condition of the Buck Island reef system appears to be very good, although continued monitoring is needed to assess the threats from both continued human pressures and regional impacts such as coral diseases. In particular, the longer-term threat to the system as a result of the loss of once dominant populations of elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata needs to be carefully evaluated, as do the effects of the apparently novel 'rapid wasting disease'.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Bythell, John
- Date of Issue
- 1998-03
- Publisher
- University of Newcastle; National Park Service
- Units
- BUIS
- Keywords
- Caribbean, Coral Reefs, Disturbance, Environmental Impact, Hurricane, Hurricane damage, Recovery, storm impact