Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystem

Hurricanes are atmospheric phenomena that are very dangerous for the environment and all types of living beings, leave significant material losses, from rivers, beaches, seas, and lagoons. Nature does not discriminate. Damage caused by hurricanes can vary depending on the type of ecosystem, whether it is aquatic or terrestrial.

Aquatic Ecosystem

Marine ecosystems are greatly affected during and after hurricanes. Marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs and the sea floor, are affected by erosion and sediment deposition that affects the marine species that inhabit them. Strong winds and surges from hurricanes cause salt water to reach lakes, lagoons, and rivers. The increase in salinity in these freshwater bodies causes the massive death of fish and other species that inhabit them while affecting the ecosystem in general. One of the most common consequences of hurricanes is flooding in cities and towns. Some countries solve these situations by pumping water from flooded areas into rivers or lagoons. This has a great impact on marine ecosystems because this water can contain toxic substances such as heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemicals that can be very harmful to aquatic life. Another risk of this practice is a potential decrease in dissolved oxygen which reduces the life chances of fish, birds, and other marine animals. In some cases, some fish survive but are displaced, which affects the balance of marine ecosystems.

Terrestrial Ecosystem

Unlike marine ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems always receive some damage from atmospheric phenomena, not only from hurricanes but also from tropical depressions or tropical storms that are usually slightly less dangerous than hurricanes.Among the ecosystems most affected are wetlands, mangroves, and barrier islands. The passage of hurricanes causes severe damage to plants, damaging the canopy of trees in forests.
This damage is caused by the strong winds, tidal surges, and rainfall that characterize hurricanes. Barrier islands may end up eroded and even below sea level due to rainfall. Wetlands and mangroves are devastated by high winds, which greatly affect the fauna that inhabit them, which in most cases are unique to these ecosystems, as they reproduce, are born, grow and die in the mangroves. In most cases they are birds, but endangered mammals and fish such as manatees, hawksbill turtles, and small tooth sawfish can be found as well.As in marine ecosystems, terrestrial animals can be displaced as a result of hurricanes. When invasive species are displaced, they can reach areas that are more susceptible to these species, which can greatly affect certain ecosystems.
In the case that these trees survive the ravages of hurricanes, they can be affected by the salinity that reaches their waters or their surroundings, of course, this does not affect wetland or mangrove forests to any great extent, but it can affect other types of trees and forests that are not resistant to high levels of salinity and acidity. It is important to note that although wetlands are resistant to salinity, this can greatly affect the other types of life that live in them. Beyond the damage caused by hurricanes in their aftermath, it is crucial to remember that these are naturally occurring events and both marine and terrestrial ecosystems tend to recover over time. Just as salt water can spread into the surrounding wetlands and terrestrial ecosystems, such as wetlands, so too can sediment from the strong winds of hurricanes arrive and negatively impact them.

As a consequence of flooding, waters can pass through landfills or areas contaminated with chemicals, mines, industrial plants and transport all these pollutants to ecosystems and even cause outbreaks and epidemics by carrying bacteria that can be dangerous, not only affecting living beings but also human beings. Hurricanes cause substantial damage to land surfaces that can lead to other types of natural disasters such as droughts, erosion, floods, landslides, and fires, and in the worst cases can even cause tornadoes.

Positive Environmental Impacts of Hurricanes

However, the passage of hurricanes not only results in negative impacts on the environment but can also be beneficial for some areas.

Rainfall in dry areas

There are areas that are in drought either naturally or due to different atmospheric phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña. The passage of hurricanes is a great relief for these areas, favoring their flora and fauna. Even when hurricanes do not pass through directly, the areas are favored by rainfall. However, flooding is a possibility due to the erosion characteristic of these areas.

Bacteria and red tide removal

Another benefit caused by the arrival of hurricanes is the reduction of bacteria found on beaches and in the oceans. The wind and waves of hurricanes destroy and separate groups of bacteria and can destroy or separate the red tide, which is a group of microscopic algae that produce toxins that can affect humans and animals. At the same time, winds help by oxygenating surface waters, which eliminates more bacteria.

Recovery of the barrier islands

The impact of hurricanes on barrier islands can be two-way, both positive and negative. Just as there are cases where sea level rise can inundate barrier islands, hurricanes enhance the recovery of barrier islands. Hurricanes bring with them sediment, sand and nutrients that end up on barrier islands. If it were not for the passage of hurricanes, barrier islands would be naturally flooded.

Marine surface life

In some cases the passage of the hurricane may favor animals on the seabed. The passage of hurricanes stirs up and moves the water, mixing nutrients and minerals, which increases the likelihood that it will mix more homogeneously and reach more territory.

Making it easier to fight forest fires

After hurricanes, tree canopies are affected and lose much of their foliage. With the possibility of trees catching fire more easily, the fact that they no longer have their canopy makes these fires more controllable by firefighters and forest rangers.

Favoring flora and fauna

Although it may seem contradictory, hurricanes can actually benefit plants. Due to their strong winds, they can transport seeds and spores to different areas that they would not naturally reach.