Multi-storm analysis reveals distinct zooplankton communities following freshening of the Gulf of Mexico shelf by Hurricane Harvey.

ABSTRACT: Tropical cyclones can highly modify coastal ecosystems through interactions between their unique set of meteorological traits and an ecosystem's antecedent conditions. As such, resultant changes to biological community structure are likely storm-specific, yet our understanding of cyclone effects on marine communities is limited compared to communities in terrestrial and freshwater habitats. Using northwestern Gulf of Mexico (NWGOM) mesozooplankton data, we tested: (1) for differences between storm and non-storm community structure and dispersion; (2) if post-storm communities varied between one another; (3) if salinity drove differences; and (4) if physical drivers of abundance and evenness varied between storm and non-storm communities. Mesozooplankton community structure following Hurric

SUBMITTER: Topor ZM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9130273 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature