Hurricane disturbance results in positive effects on tropical stream meiofauna abundance and richness.

ABSTRACT: Hurricanes are major natural disturbances that significantly influence tropical ecosystems. While most research focuses on large-bodied organisms, understanding the impact of hurricanes on small-bodied biota, such as meiofauna, is crucial, especially as climate change models predict more frequent and intense storms. Puerto Rico offers a unique setting to study these effects, as hurricanes and tropical storms are frequent. This research examined the short- (Post-Hurricane A) and medium-term (Post-Hurricane B) impacts of Hurricanes Irma and María (September 2017) on stream meiofaunal communities in a tropical stream in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. Twelve samples were collected monthly from pools across two stream reaches for eight months before and after the hurricanes. Environmental va

SUBMITTER: Santiago-Vera J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12912625 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature