Storms strongly affect coral reefs; one unstudied but potentially important outcome may be a decrease in herbivory, presumably through changes to freshwater, sediment and nutrient influx. Algal turfs are sensitive early indicators of reef condition, and experimental evidence demonstrates low sediment loads and strong herbivory maintain short, healthy turf. While unknown, storms likely disrupt these controlling forces. We have observed storms that generate frequent, visible sediment plumes in Moorea, French Polynesia. To evaluate the effects of storms on herbivory, we conducted a set of field experiments manipulating herbivore access to naturally occurring turf under three rainfall regimes: no rain, light rain, and heavy rain that generated a plume event. We found strong effects of herbivores except following the storm, indicating disruption of typically strong top-down control by herbivores on algal turfs. Further research into the underlying mechanisms is critical as storm intensities and watershed development increase in many tropical regions.

中文翻译：

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风暴可能会破坏对边缘珊瑚礁藻类草皮的自上而下的控制

风暴强烈影响珊瑚礁；一个未经研究但可能很重要的结果可能是食草动物的减少，这可能是由于淡水、沉积物和养分流入的变化。藻类草皮是珊瑚礁状况的敏感早期指标，实验证据表明低沉积物负荷和强大的食草动物维持短而健康的草皮。虽然未知，但风暴可能会破坏这些控制力量。我们观察到在法属波利尼西亚的莫雷阿岛产生频繁、可见的沉积物羽流的风暴。为了评估暴风雨对食草动物的影响，我们进行了一组田间实验，在三种降雨情况下操纵食草动物进入天然草皮：无雨、小雨和产生羽状事件的大雨。我们发现了食草动物的强烈影响，除了风暴之后，表明食草动物对藻类草皮的典型自上而下控制受到破坏。随着许多热带地区风暴强度和流域发展的增加，对潜在机制的进一步研究至关重要。