Froom UF/IFAS
In Summary:
A University of Florida study reviewing more than 300 scientific articles found tropical cyclones can have wide-ranging impacts on wildlife around the world. Researchers said hurricanes sometimes push species toward extinction through habitat destruction and mass mortality, but can also create opportunities for adaptation, migration, and population growth. The study comes as scientists warn that stronger and more frequent storms could increasingly influence ecosystems and wildlife management decisions.
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Hurricanes can be a devastating force – leveling trees, erasing beaches, and damaging homes. But what do they do to wildlife?
The answer ranges from the good to the bad to the ugly. Hurricanes sometimes help native species, but other times, they introduce and spread invasive species. Sometimes, they cause animals to evolve to survive these storms more easily, and sometimes they lead to mass migration or extinction.
Tropical cyclones have likely facilitated the spread of invasive lionfish across parts of their non-native range. Photograph credit: Robin White (CC BY-NC 4.0).
A University of Florida study published in
Biological Reviews reviewed over 300 scholarly articles and identified trends in how animals responded to and adapted to tropical cyclones, including hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, typhoons in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, and cyclones in the south Pacific and Indian oceans. Such research can help inform environmental and wildlife management decisions as tropical cyclones become more frequent and stronger in a warming world.
American flamingos observed in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, likely transported there by Hurricane Idalia. Photograph credit: R. (CC-BY-NC).
Overall, researchers found a few themes: Animals around the globe moved differently in response to hurricanes due to instinct or by impact from the storm itself, they hid in or fled to unexpected places, some were killed by the hundreds, and some thrived and multiplied, despite all odds, said
Hance Ellington, senior author and assistant professor in the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Tropical cyclones also spread invasive species into new regions, adding a new survival challenge for native species.
A Perdido Key beach mouse at the Brevard Zoo’s conservation breeding facility in Florida. The Brevard Zoo is one of several institutions breeding this endangered species for potential reintroduction into the wild. Photograph: Brevard Zoo, with permission.
“The big picture is that tropical cyclones impact wildlife, directly or indirectly, in a variety of ways, whether via survival, impacting reproduction, or by other means,” he said. “While it’s not the norm, a really fascinating realization from this review is that some wildlife can actually benefit from hurricanes.”
Key Points:
- UF researchers reviewed more than 300 studies on wildlife responses to tropical cyclones.
- Hurricanes can cause habitat destruction, mass mortality, migration, and behavioral changes.
- Some species surprisingly benefit from storms through population expansion or new habitat opportunities.
- Tropical cyclones can also help spread invasive species into new regions.
- Researchers say the findings could help guide future conservation and wildlife management efforts.
