Hurricanes and other strong storms can have a profound impact on communities. Power outages, flooding and interruption of communication systems can interrupt everyday life. But storms and natural disasters can wreak havoc on animals, ecosystems and coastal habitats. <\/p>\n
Although parts of the world have been subjected to hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes and other storms for millenia, experts at the United States Department of the Interior and the U.S. Geological Survey say that today's storms may be more detrimental to animal life and ecosystems than ever before. That's because periodic disturbances on plants and animals that result from storms are compounded by consistent environmental changes brought on by human development and industry. Animals that could once bounce back from a weather event may find it harder to rebound because their habitats have already been weakened by human interference. <\/p>\n
In 1998, Hurricane Georges was the most destructive hurricane to strike the island of Puerto Rico since 1932. Georges further stressed the habitat of rare species such as the sea turtle and the highly endangered Puerto Rican parrot, cutting the parrot population in half. Conservation specialists estimate there are fewer than 50 of these parrots currently living in the wild and roughly 140 in captivity. <\/p>\n
Thousands of animals live in coastal regions. In addition to high, damaging winds taking down trees and defoliating forest canopies, wind can cause powerful storm surges that displace sand. Ultimately, entire coastal landscapes may be reshaped or reduced. <\/p>\n
Information from the University of Rhode Island estimates that hurricanes such as Ivan, Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike have changed shoreline positions of about 328 feet (100 meters) in certain areas. Northeastern coastal areas in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have been entirely reshaped in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Wildlife that may have been living in the dunes or coastal channels of areas impacted by hurricanes and other storms may have been obliterated or forced to relocate to other, less tolerable locations. Barrier islands, important for protecting areas of the coast, shift or erode, taking out forests that are resting places for migratory birds. Should a storm take place during a period of mating or egg-laying, entire generations of animal life can be wiped out. <\/p>\n
Coastal areas are not the only places impacted by such storms. During Hurricane Sandy, seawater breached many areas that had never before seen such a surge in water levels. Saltwater intrusion can change other wetland ecosystems, making them inhabitable for some organisms not acclimated to salty conditions. Displaced sand can end up suffocating insects and other animals in areas where it has been dumped, and may impede the growth of grasses and other plants that feed a wide variety of animals. <\/p>\n
Hurricanes can affect marine life as well. Hurricanes can destroy oyster beds and crab habitats and displace fish that feed many other large marine creatures. Flood waters can transport sewage and untreated chemicals from land into the water, harming marine life as a result. Fish and crustaceans may be tossed on shore, where they are unable to return to the safety of the water. Furthermore, discharge of boat fuel and oil from wrecked vessels can infiltrate marine ecosystems, further damaging delicate species. <\/p>\n
Hurricanes can cause structural changes, interruption of food sources and destruction of homes while slowing down communication methods. But hurricanes affect the animals that live in and around storm-ravaged areas as well. <\/p>\n
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How hurricanes affect the ecosystem | | shorenewstoday.com - Shore News Today<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hurricanes and other strong storms can have a profound impact on communities. Continue reading