Post-hurricane initial recovery of acropora palmata in two reefs of the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico

摘要

The initial recovery process of Acropora palmata in two distant reefs, impacted in 1988 by a hurricane (class V) and a tropical storm, was analyzed for a five year period. The reefs are located in different environmental settings and subject to moderate local Human influence. Recovery estimations were based on censuses of live cover, size and Number of colonies on the reef crest of both reefs, comprising different spatial scales and Reef morphologies. It was observed that after a variable lag period the recovery process Was well underway in both reefs.