J.W. This manuscript is in review. I'll tell you more about it after it gets accepted for publication. Meier, O.W., and J.W. Porter. Department of Biology, University of Charleston, Charleston, SC, 29424.
Hurricanes are relatively frequent events in tropical and subtropical coastal areas.
Because these are the regions in which coral reefs are located, and most well-developed reefs occur in shallow water, it is important to know how these disturbances help structure coral reef communities. We have monitored two reefs in Biscayne National Park, Florida since 1989 by permanent and repeatable methods. In 1992, following three years of baseline monitoring, Hurricane Andrew passed directly over these stations. In 1994, the eye of Tropical Storm Gordon passed south of the same reefs. We resurveyed the stations within 3 weeks of each cyclone event.