Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne remove blooms of the invasive green algaCaulerpa brachypus formaparvifolia (Harvey) cribb from coral reefs off Northern Palm Beach County, Florida |
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| Authors: | Brian E Lapointe Bradley J Bedford Rex Baumberger |
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| Institution: | (1) Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No.3, Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Coral reefs worldwide are under stress from a variety of anthropogenic activities that can alter or inhibit recovery from
catastrophic physical disturbances such as hurricanes. On coral reefs off southeast Florida, land-based nutrient pollution
contributed to a successful invasion ofCaulerpa brachypus fornaparvifolia that dominated (up to 90% cover) reefs between January 2003 and August 2004. In September 2004, physical effects from Hurricanes
Frances and Jeanne removed virtually all of theC. brachypus from the affected reefs. In July 2005, small patches ofC. brachypus began to re-emerge and the area was affected again by Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. Although these hurricanes provided
temporary relief from theC. brachypus invasion, the future of these reefs is uncertain because of competition with other opportunistic macroalgae and biota that
may respond to the combination of newly created space and continued nutrient stress. |
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