How Wildlife Respond to Tropical Cyclones: Short-Term Tactics and Long-Term Impacts
USGS is collaborating with the University of Florida to describe the diverse and fascinating tactics demonstrated by wildlife to survive tropical cyclones, which can aid in understanding the impact climate change is having on wildlife and provide insights into how those impacts may be mitigated.
The Science Issue and Relevance: In the last 30 years, tropical cyclones, also known as hurricanes, cyclones, or typhoons depending on where they occur, have been increasing in intensity. From butterflies to lizards and from sharks to seabirds, wildlife exhibit tactics to survive the impacts of tropical cyclones. Some species seek refuge during the storm by moving, some hunker down and ride it out, and others move longer distances, avoiding the main impacts of the storm altogether. Tropical cyclones can have direct impacts on wildlife (e.g., mortality), but can also have indirect effects by altering resources and habitat, with downstream impacts on abundance and recruitment. The ecological and evolutionary impacts of tropical cyclones on wildlife can be complex, as they are often intertwined with concurrent pressures from land use change, human development, and climate change.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Using examples from across taxa and ecosystems, WARC researchers describe trends in how species and wildlife communities respond to tropical cyclones. Researchers describe tactics demonstrated by wildlife that enable them to survive the immediate impact of the storm, as well as the longer-term impacts after the storm. Examples show how tropical cyclones can act as a selective pressure and a facilitator for the introduction of invasive species, and may provide a net benefit to some native species.
Future Steps: This synthesis helps to fill an urgent gap, as the frequency of intense tropical cyclones is predicted to continue to increase worldwide. The concurrent pressures from land use change, human development, and climate change mean that tropical cyclones could impact wildlife more than previously observed. Identifying the mechanisms by which wildlife cope with such disturbances can aid in understanding the impact climate change is having on wildlife and provide insights into how those impacts may be mitigated.
USGS is collaborating with the University of Florida to describe the diverse and fascinating tactics demonstrated by wildlife to survive tropical cyclones, which can aid in understanding the impact climate change is having on wildlife and provide insights into how those impacts may be mitigated.
The Science Issue and Relevance: In the last 30 years, tropical cyclones, also known as hurricanes, cyclones, or typhoons depending on where they occur, have been increasing in intensity. From butterflies to lizards and from sharks to seabirds, wildlife exhibit tactics to survive the impacts of tropical cyclones. Some species seek refuge during the storm by moving, some hunker down and ride it out, and others move longer distances, avoiding the main impacts of the storm altogether. Tropical cyclones can have direct impacts on wildlife (e.g., mortality), but can also have indirect effects by altering resources and habitat, with downstream impacts on abundance and recruitment. The ecological and evolutionary impacts of tropical cyclones on wildlife can be complex, as they are often intertwined with concurrent pressures from land use change, human development, and climate change.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Using examples from across taxa and ecosystems, WARC researchers describe trends in how species and wildlife communities respond to tropical cyclones. Researchers describe tactics demonstrated by wildlife that enable them to survive the immediate impact of the storm, as well as the longer-term impacts after the storm. Examples show how tropical cyclones can act as a selective pressure and a facilitator for the introduction of invasive species, and may provide a net benefit to some native species.
Future Steps: This synthesis helps to fill an urgent gap, as the frequency of intense tropical cyclones is predicted to continue to increase worldwide. The concurrent pressures from land use change, human development, and climate change mean that tropical cyclones could impact wildlife more than previously observed. Identifying the mechanisms by which wildlife cope with such disturbances can aid in understanding the impact climate change is having on wildlife and provide insights into how those impacts may be mitigated.