Moran,-D.P.; Reaka-Kudla,-M.L.  Effects of disturbance: 
	Disruption and enhancement of coral reef cryptofaunal 
	populations by hurricanes.  CORAL-REEFS. 1991. vol. 9, 
	no. 4, pp. 215-224.

Samples of solitary cryptofauna were collected from reef 
habitats before and after Hurricanes David and Frederic 
struck St. Croix, U.S.V.I. The intertidal beachrock zone 
suffered severe and sustained damage from waves, sand 
scouring and moving debris. Most bioeroded cavities in the 
substrate and several previously abundant cryptic taxa were 
completely obliterated from this environment for more than 6 
months; numbers remained low or the pre-hurricane body size 
distribution had not been regained by the end of the 2 year 
study in a number of taxa. Overall, however, this cryptofauna 
exhibited strong succession, with burrowers and then nestlers 
increasing above pre-hurricane densities. The hurricanes 
enhanced densities of benthic invertebrates per piece of 
rubble (probably by providing fresh unburrowed substrate) in 
these moderately shallow subtidal habitats.