The numbers of S. squamata gradually increased from east to 



west (transects 1 to 9) . The number of individuals was 217 



on transects 1, 2, and 3; 222 on transects 4, 5, and 6, and 311 on 



transects 7, 8, and 9 (Fig. 37). 



The fourth most abundant species was D. texasianus. Its abundance 

 was never enough on any sampling date to determine if the storm had 

 any effect (Fig. 36 and 37). 



Several previously unrecorded species were found following 

 Hurricane Eloise. As previously stated, there were 170 species of 

 macroinvertebrates present in 12 months of sampling (Table 15) . 

 Following the storm, seven additional species occurred in the samples 

 that were not found before. These included four species of amphipods 

 {Maeva sp., Maera sp. 2, Miaroprotus sp., and Netamelita sp.), two 

 unidentified species of Tanaidacea, and one caridean shrimp 

 {Periolimen.es longieaudatus) . None of these newly occurring species 

 were abundant; individuals of these seven species totaled 15 (Table 

 34). 



4. Discussion . 



Hurricane Eloise caused considerable damage to the beach property 

 and eroded the primary sand dune which protects the beach. The 

 surprising fact was the absence of a decline in abundance of benthic 

 invertebrates inhabiting the swash zone immediately following the 

 hurricane . 



Croker (1968) found little change in the distribution and abundance 

 of haustoriid amphipods inhabiting the beach of Sapelo Island, Georgia, 

 following two hurricanes in 1964. The only mortality that occurred to 

 the amphipods he attributed to large volumes of freshwater lowering 

 the salinity. Keith and Hulings (1965) also noted that haustoriid 

 amphipod abundance in subtidal sand in Texas was relatively unaffected 

 by Hurricane Cindy. 



Death or displacement of some of the animals inhabiting the swash 

 zone probably occurred because of erosion of the substrates, water 

 movement, and the energy exerted on the beach during the hurricane. The 

 long-term effects of this storm on the benthic fauna are uncertain; 

 however, due to the short life cycles of the dominant species, recovery 

 could be fast. 



VI. SUMMARY 



The beach and near shore zone of the Gulf of Mexico off Panama City 

 Beach, Florida, consist of white sandy beaches backed by naturally 



