Synopsis
The reef flats of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Leu (Reunion Island, Indian Ocean) suffered badly from hurricane Firinga on 29 January 1989. The high degree of silting due to increased run-off killed the coral colonies. Fish communities were surveyed at four periods following the hurricane (March and September 1989, March and September 1990). An increase in both species richness (31 to 47 spp. per census) and abundance (169 to 265 individuals per census) of fishes was observed with time, along with changes in their trophic structure. This positive succession may be linked to the disappearance of the silt layer from reef flats since September 1989. Nevertheless, there were differences in fluctuations and trophic structure of the fish community between back-, inner- and outer-reef flats. Finally, differences in recovery between the two reefs are related to the overall environmental degradation of the Island, chiefly by human perturbation, prior to the hurricane.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Allen, G.R. 1975. Damselfishes of the south seas. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 238pp.
Bortone, S.A., J.J. Kimmel & C.M. Brundrick. 1989. A comparison of three methods for visually assessing reef fish communities: time and area compensated. Northeast Gulf Sci. 10: 85–96.
Bouchon, C., Y. Bouchon-Navaro, D. Imbert & M. Louis. 1991. Effets de l'ouragan Hugo sur les communautés ctières de Guadeloupe (Antilles française). Ann. Inst. Océanogr., Paris 67: 5–33.
Cuet, P. & O. Naim. 1989. Bilan des degradations de l'écosystème récifal. pp. 246–303. In: G. Faure, J.Y. Conan & L. Montaggioni (ed.) Les Platiers Récifaux de La Réunion. Univ. rRéunion, Labo. Mar. Boil., A.U.R. 303 pp.
Dollar, S.J. 1982. Waves stress and coral community structure in Hawaii. Coral Reefs 1: 71–81.
Endean, R. 1976. Destruction and recovery of coral reef communities. pp. 215–254. In: O.A. Jones & R. Endean (ed.) Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs. vol. 3, Academic Press. New York.
Faure, G. 1982. Recherches sur les peuplements de scléractiniaires des récifs coralliens des Mascareignes (océan Indien occidental). Thèse cs sciences, Univ. Aix-Marseille II, Marseille. 206 pp.
Fenner, D.P. 1991. Effects of hurricane Gilbert on coral reefs, fishes and sponges at Cozumel, Mexico. Bull. Mar. Sci. 48: 719–730.
Flood, P.G. & J.S. Jell. 1977. The effect of cyclone David (January, 1976) on the sediment distribution patterns on Heron reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Proc. 3rd Internat. Coral Reef Symp. 2: 120–125.
Fowler, A.J. 1987. The development of sampling strategies for population studies of coral reef fishes. A ease study. Coral Reefs 6: 49–58.
Galzin, R. 1987a. Structure of fish communities of French Polynesian coral reef. I: Spatial scales. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 41: 129–136.
Galzin, R. 1987b. Structure of fish communities of French Polynesian coral reef. II: Temporal scales. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Scr. 41: 137–145.
Harmelin-Vivien, M.L. 1979. Ichtyofaune des récifs coralliens de Tuléar (Madagascar): écologie et relations trophiques. Thèse es sciences, Univ. Aix-Marseille II, Marseille. 281 pp.
Harmelin-Vivien, M.L. & Y. Bouchon-Navaro. 1983. Feeding diets and significance of coral feeding among chaetodontid fishes in Moorea (French Polynesia). Coral Reefs 2: 119–127.
Harmelin-Vivien, M.L., J. G. Harmelin, C. Chauvet, C. Duval, R. Galzin, P. Lejeune, G. Barnabé, F. Blanc, R. Chevalier, J. Duclerc & G. Lasserre. 1985. Evaluation visuelle des peuplements et populations de poissons: méthodes et problèmes. Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 40: 467–539.
Harmelin-Vivien, M.L. & P. Laboute. 1986. Catastrophic impact of hurricanes on atoll outer reef slopes in the Tuamotu (French Polynesia). Coral Reefs 5: 55–62.
Kahn, J.H. 1984. Geomorphic recovery of the Chandeleur islands, Louisiana, after a major hurricane. Littoralia 1: 31–40.
Kaufman, L.S. 1983. Effects of hurricane Allen on reef fish assemblages near Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Coral Reefs 2: 43–47.
Laboute, P. 1985. Evaluation of damage done by the cyclones of 1982–1983 to the outer slopes of the Tuamotu and Takapoto atolls (Tuamotu Archipelago). Proc. 5th Internat. Coral Reef Symp. 3: 323–329.
Lassig, B.R. 1983. The effects of a cyclonic storm on coral reef fish assemblage. Env. Biol. Fish. 9: 55–63.
Letourneur, Y. 1991. Modifications du peuplement de poissons du platier récifal de Saint-Pierre (le de La Réunion, océan Indien) consécutives au passage du cyclone Firinga. Cybium 15: 159–170.
Letourneur, Y. 1992. Dynamique des peuplements ichtyologiques des platiers récifaux de file de La Réunion. Thèse Océanologie Biologique, Univ. Aix-Marseille II, Marseille. 244 pp.
Montaggioni, L. & G. Faure. 1980. Les récifs coralliens des Mascareignes (océan Indien). Coll. Trav. Centre Univ., Univ. Fr. O. Indien. 151 pp.
Moran, D.P. & M.L. Reaka-Kudla. 1991. Effects of disturbance: disruption and enhancement of coral reef cryptofaunal populations by hurricanes. Coral Reefs 9: 215–224.
Naim, O. 1980. Bilan qualitatif et quantitatif de la petite faune associée aux algues du lagon de Tiahura (Moorea, Polynésie française). C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris 291: 549–551.
Pfeffer, R.A. & G.W. Tribble. 1985. Hurricane effects on an aquarium fish fishery in the Hawaiian islands. Proc. 5th Internat. Coral Reef Symp. 3: 331–336.
Risk, M.J. 1972. Fish diversity on a coral reef in the Virgin islands. Atoll Res. Bull. 193: 1–6.
Roberts, C.M. & R.F. Ormond. 1987. Habitat complexity and coral reef fish diversity and abundance on Red Sea fringing reefs. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 41: 1–8.
Sale, P.E. & B.J. Sharp. 1983. Correction for bias in visual transect censuses of coral reef fishes. Coral Reefs 2: 49–63.
Sano, M., M. Shimizu & Y. Nose. 1984. Changes in structure of coral reef fish communities by destruction of hermatypic corals: observational and experimental views. Pacific. Sci. 38: 51–79.
Smith, M.M. & P.C. Heemstra (ed.) 1986. Smiths' sea fishes. Springer Verlag, Berlin. 1047 pp.
Stoddart, D.R. 1971. Coral reefs and islands and catastrophic storms. pp. 155–197. In J.A. Steers (ed.) Applied Coastal Geomorphology, Macmillan, London.
Walsh, W.J. 1983. Stability of a coral reef fish community following a catastrophic storm. Coral Reefs 2: 49–63.
Wellington, G.M. & B.C. Victor. 1985. El Niño mass coral mortality: a test of resource limitation in a coral reef damselfish population. Oecologia 68: 15–19.
Williams, A.H. 1984. The effects of hurricane Allen on back reef populations of Discovery Bay, Jamaica. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 75: 233–243.
Williams, D.McB. 1982. Patterns in the distribution of fish communities across the central Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 1: 35–43.
Woodley, J.D., E.A. Chornesky, P.A. Clifford, J.B.C. Jackson, L.S. Kaufman, N. Knowlton, J.C. Lang, M.P. Pearson, J.W. Porter, M.C. Rooney, K.W. Rylaarsdam, V.J. Tunnicliffe, C.M. Wahle, J.L. Wulff, A.S.G. Curtis, M.D. Dallmeyer, B.P. Jupp, M.A.R. Koelh, J. Neigel & E.M. Sides. 1981. Hurricane Allen's impact on Jamaican coral reefs. Science 214: 749–755.
Yoshioka, P.M. & B.B. Yoshioka. 1987. Variable effects of hurricane David on the shallow water gorgonian of Puerto Rico. Bull. Mar. Sci. 40: 132–144.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Letourneur, Y., Harmelin-Vivien, M. & Galzin, R. Impact of hurricane Firinga on fish community structure on fringing reefs of Reunion Island, S.W. Indian Ocean. Environ Biol Fish 37, 109–120 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00000586
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00000586