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Riding the Storm: Microeukaryote Community Responses to Hurricane Disturbance
Andrea Aurora Rivera-Zizumbo1,2, Patricia Velez1, Yunuen Tapia-Torres3
1Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Hurricane Otis devastated microeukaryotic communities on Acapulco
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Microbial Ecology
- Coastal Ecosystems
Background:
- Sandy beaches host diverse microeukaryotic communities (protists, microalgae, meiofauna).
- Microeukaryotes are crucial ecological drivers in these dynamic environments.
- Understanding their response to disturbances is vital but understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess microeukaryotic diversity and community structure changes.
- To investigate the impact of Hurricane Otis on a sandy beach ecosystem.
- To explore relationships between community shifts and environmental factors.
Main Methods:
- ITS1 metabarcoding analysis of microeukaryotic communities.
- Sampling conducted before and after Hurricane Otis.
- Community structure assessed across different beach zones.
Main Results:
- Microeukaryotic ASVs (Amplicon Sequence Variants) dropped from 260 to 93 post-hurricane.
- Significant loss of groups like Porifera, Rotifera, and Amoeboza.
- Ciliophora proliferated, while Ochrophyta and metazoans decreased; nutrient levels correlated with changes.
Conclusions:
- Microeukaryotes exhibit high sensitivity to extreme natural disturbances.
- Community structure shifts were linked to nutrient availability (total phosphorus and nitrogen).
- Limited recovery observed within six months, long-term recovery potential is uncertain.
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