Effects of a Natural Disturbance on a Continental Shelf Live Bottom Community off North Carolina

摘要

In September 1984, Hurricane Diana with maximum winds of 132 mph was stalled off Cape Fear, North Carolina, for over 24 hours in the vicinity of a previously sampled live bottom study site on the mid-continental shelf. Research cruises were undertaken to assess the impact of the storm on the large epibenthic organisms (sponges, corals, molluscs, algae and fishes) found at this site. Damage observed was limited to dead mussels, some dead coral and necrotic spots on corals. These data suggest that these communities are well adapted to the severe sand scour and water currents caused by waves generated during the passage of major storms.