The majority of trees can endure hurricane stress and still recover, especially when they are established in storm-prone regions in North America. This observation aligns with findings from Clemson University and other forestry researchers working in the Caribbean and southeastern United States.
Hurricane Maria struck Dominica on September 18, 2017, bringing wind speeds above 250 km/h and setting a historic gust record. Researchers led by Saara DeWalt and her team were assigned to assess the impact on natural ecosystems and forest stands. Their initial view from the expedition plane suggested a forest of matchsticks—trees with snapped limbs and broken trunks. The early impression pointed toward catastrophic destruction.
Yet, upon landing and conducting field surveys, the investigators documented a different reality. Approximately 89% of the trees sustained some form of damage, with 76% experiencing severe injuries, and only 10% showing total destruction. As one scientist summarized, storm-prone forests prove strikingly resilient even under extreme conditions. The recovery potential observed is substantial, and while the damage was extensive, the survival rate of a large majority of trees underscored an important resilience in these ecosystems.
The most frequent injuries were trunk breakage, affecting around 40% of trees, and severe damage to branches, seen in about 26% of trees. The secondary causes, including uprooting and crushing by neighboring trees, accounted for significant losses as well, with roughly 33% of uprooted trees and 47% of crushed trees dying. These patterns reveal how forest structure and the competitive dynamics among trees shape the immediate outcomes after a hurricane event.
In a broader Canadian and American context, researchers note that older, larger trees often serve as keystone habitats for a range of animal species. While some observers might view the loss of venerable individuals as a setback, the overall persistence of younger cohorts and resilient species interactions can sustain essential ecological functions, including shelter, food resources, and biodiversity support.
Colleagues in bioacoustics and entomology have also explored how certain species adapt to post-storm environments. For instance, there is evidence that moths and bats engage in decoy-like interactions that influence feeding behavior and predator avoidance. These findings remind readers that forest ecosystems operate as interconnected networks where changes in one component can ripple through multiple trophic levels. [Cited: Clemson University; field researchers in the Caribbean and North America]