V. INFLUENCE OF HURRICANE ELOISE ON THE BENTHIC FAUNA OF 



PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA 



1 . Introduction . 



The effects of hurricanes or storms on aquatic animals have been 

 documented by numerous authors. The concensus of most published 

 reports is that damage does occur to aquatic fauna and flora. The 

 principal causes were mainly the deposition of sediments causing 

 suffocation, high turbidities affecting fish and larval forms, oxygen 

 depletion caused by increased decomposition of exposed organic 

 sediments, erosion of substrates, prolonged low salinities caused by 

 excessive rainfall and runoff, stranding of individuals caused by wind 

 and tidal action, and the influence of cold water caused by upwelling 

 (Rogick, 1940; Archer, 1947; Engle, 1948; Robins, 1957; Burbanck, 1961; 

 Thomas, Moore, and Work, 1961; Breder, 1962; Tabb and Jones, 1962; 

 Keith and Hulings, 1965; Croker, 1968; Stone and Azarovitz, 1968; 

 Harger and Landenberger, 1971; and Munden, 1975). 



Information on the influence of hurricanes on benthic animals 

 along the beaches fronting the open ocean or the Gulf of Mexico is 

 limited. Croker (1968) made a study in Georgia after Hurricanes Cleo 

 and Dora, and Keith and Hulings (1965) in Texas after Hurricane Cindy 

 in 1963. Ansell, et al . (1972) observed factors affecting the 

 macrofauna on two sandy beaches in India before and during the monsoon 

 season. 



Seventeen hurricanes reached land in the northeastern Gulf of 

 Mexico between 1873 and 1970 (Sugg, Pardue, and Carrodus, 1971). 

 The damage from these storms and others that occurred in the Gulf of 

 Mexico amounts to millions of dollars. An estimate of damage by 14 

 memorable hurricanes in the United States since 1926 was $6,820 

 million (Sugg, Pardue, and Carrodus, 1971). 



The eye of Hurricane Eloise passed over the gulf beach between 

 Fort Walton Beach and Panama City Beach before dawn on 23 September 

 1975. Wind velocities were approximately 130 miles per hour (209.2 

 kilometers per hour), and seas had risen to 10 to 15 feet with 15-foot 

 (4.6 meters) waves pounding the beach. Damage on Panama City Beach 

 alone was estimated at $50 million. Erosion of the beach and sand dune 

 and damage to seawalls and buildings are shown in Figures 33, 34, and 35. 



Serious erosion occurred along the beach, removing "most of the 

 fore dune. Before the hurricane, a plan for beach nourishment called 

 for 3,999,000 cubic yards of sand to build a dune, storm berm, and 

 beach, plus an additional 910,000 cubic yards at 10-year intervals for 



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