Terrestrial Environment and Climate, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize Klaus Rutzler and Joan D. Ferraris dition of the remaining coconut tree population, ABSTRACT and recovery of the vegetation that had been Severe hurricane activity during the past. 20 entirely eliminated by salt water flooding. Our years has reduced Carrie Bow Cay (16°48'N, other observations on the terrestrial and intertidal 88°05’W) to half its pre-1960 size of 0.8 ha. At flora and fauna of the islet are of casual qualita- present, Carrie Bow Cay (0.4 ha area) is one of tive nature and restricted to large and conspicu- the smallest inhabited sand cays on the barrier reef of Belize. The island measures 120 X 36 m, ous organisms. Meteorological records were taken rises 40 cm above mean tide level, and supports regularly during the months of our field work, three wooden cottages with freshwater tanks. The mainly in spring and early summer, but are spo- only permanent terrestrial plants are about 60 radic during the remaining parts of the year. coconut trees. Other vegetation appears periodi- Carrie Bow Cay has been the base of the Smith- cally and spreads until it is destroyed by inter- sonian Institution coral reef study since the initi- mittent storm tides. Conspicuous animals include a few birds, a lizard, and some supratidal crus- ation of the program in 1972. The small island taceans. About one-third of the island’s surface is provided the necessary support in close proximity intertidal and occupied mainly by algae, crusta- of reef and lagoon habitats without having no- ceans, and mollusks that are adapted to this ticeable terrestrial effects on these environments. habitat. The climate is oceanic and is dominated ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.—We thank H. Pulpan largely by northeasterly trade winds. and M. Carpenter for their help in surveying Carrie Bow Cay. The following colleagues pro- Introduction vided or confirmed identification of organisms mentioned in this report: S. H. Brawley (blue- Previous terrestrial investigation of Carrie Bow green algae); J. N. Norris (algae, except blue- Cay was based on brief topographic and floristic ereens); MEE. Hale (lichens); M-H. Sachet surveys (Stoddart, 1963; 1969; 1974) and a short- (higher plants); J. C. den Hartog (cerianthids); term meteorological study (Kjerfve, 1978). Our W. A. Newman (barnacles); B. Kensley (crusta- own first topographic survey was prompted by ceans, except barnacles); R. S. Houbrick (mol- the severe impact of hurricane Fifi, in 197, on the lusks); D. L. Pawson (echinoids); R. I. Crombie, shape and size of the island. From then on we F. J. Irish (reptiles); and W. Trivelpiece (birds). monitored morphological changes of the cay, con- C. H. Sprinkle helped with information on me- teorological monitoring practices. The following Klau Rsutzle Dr,epartmen oItnf vertebra tZeoolog yN,ation aMl useum persons assisted in maintaining and evaluating of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, weather records: H.T.A. Bowman III, M. Car- D.C. 20560. Joan D. Ferraris, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory S, alsbur yCove M, ain e04672. penter, B: Kyerfve, R. J. Larson, K. Leshe, A. 78 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MARINE SCIENCES Rath, D. S. Robertson, R. Sims and B. Spracklin. installed on the cay, and the other one on the I. Jewett drafted the graphs. Special thanks are mainland at Pelican Beach Motel, Dangriga. The due P. J. Herbert for information on hurricane rainy season (June—September) of 1979 was also events in Belize, particularly for case histories of monitored by an unattended tipping-bucket rain- Fifi and Greta, and D. R. Stoddart for use of his gauge (WeatherMeasure P501-I) with solar-pow- 1972 map of Carrie Bow Cay. ered event recorder on Carrie Bow Cay. Humidity was calculated from psychrometer (Psychro-Dyne Methods PP100) readings. GEODETIC SuRVEYS.—Tape measure, sighting compass, and sighting along permanent or tem- Physiography porary markers were used for determining shape and size of the island and position of trees and Location.—Carrie Bow Cay (16°48’N, artificial structures. The concrete boat dock on 88°05’W) is a small sand island located on top of the lagoon side and the wooden main house in the barrier reef that lines the outer shelf edge of the center of the cay provided the principal points Belize (formerly British Honduras), Central of reference. Vertical photographs from a helicop- America (Plate 1: center rnght). Its former name, ter, in March 1976, helped to improve the docu- Ellen Cay, is still recorded on many nautical mentation of the island’s physiography. charts. The nearest significant settlement 1s Dan- PLANT ABUNDANCE.—The first quantitative griga (Stann Creek), a town of 7000 inhabitants survey of plants made in 1978 consisted of sub- on the mainland, 24 km due 320° (NW). The cay jective visual estimates of five categories of rela- belongs to H.T.A. Bowman of Dangriga and is tive abundance. More objective measurements of used as a vacation place for his family. The area of plant coverage were made in 1979 by nearest islands are South Water Cay, 1.5 km due placing a 50 X 50 cm (0.25 m’”) frame subdivided 0° (N), a sand cay populated by a few fishermen into 10 X 10 cm (100 cm’) fields over all surfaces and occasional vacationers, and Twin Cays (also of the island showing vegetation. The number of known as South Water Range) 4 km due 323° frames occupied by a given species was recorded (NW), an uninhabited mangrove development. to the nearest half frame (50 cm’). Carrie Bow Cay is protected from open ocean MeEtEorROLOGY.—Generally, meteorological waves by a crescent-shaped reef crest to the east conditions were recorded three times a day (O600- and a 100 m wide reef flat that extends from the 0800 h; 1200-1400 h; 1800-2000 h) whenever the crest to the island’s seaward shore (Plate 5: top laboratory on Carrie Bow Cay was in operation, left). most commonly during the periods January—June SHAPE AND SIzE.—With a surface area of less and October/November, 1976-1978. Tempera- than 0.4 ha, Carrie Bow Cay belongs among the ture was measured with +0.5° C accuracy in smallest inhabited cays on the Belizean shelf shaded air, in sun-exposed sand (5 cm below (Stoddart and Fosberg,-herein: 527) (Figure 51; surface), in water on the reef flat (0.2 m average Plate 1: bottom left). The island formerly was bottom depth), and below low-tide level at the double its present size (H.T.A. Bowman, pers. boat dock (lagoon, 0.8 m average bottom depth). comm.) and bordered by mangrove, but clearing Some continuous analog chart recordings of solar of these trees in 1944 led to progressive erosion by radiation were made by pyranograph (Weather- storm tides. Stranded beachrock as far as 30 m - Measure B211). Wind speed and direction were east and south of the present seaward shore doc- read from a cup anemometer with air foil vane uments both a shift in dimensions and slow mi- (WeatherMeasure W121). Precipitation was mea- gration leewards. At present, the cay has an elipt- sured with two rain gauges (10 cm diameter), one ical shape with approximate north-south exten- NUMBER 12 PS Figure 51.—Carrie Bow Cay, aerial view from the south, May 1973; note exposed beach rock on the reef flat east of the island. sion. The longer axis is directed due 30° (NNE) times separate intertidal sand spits are formed to and measures 120 m between mean tide level the north. Concrete block seawalls and rubble (MTL) points; the greatest dimension perpendic- and coral rock landfills built up over many years ular to this axis lies along a line transecting the to delay erosion dominate the northwest (Figure center of the isle and measures 36 m. Surface area 526) and southeast shorelines, which also have a calculated from planimetry is 0.36 ha to MTL, few small sandy beaches here and there. Conch 0.25 ha if only dry-land (supratidal) area is mea- shells abandoned by generations of local fisher- sured. Highest elevation, which is approximately men are accumulated along the southwest coast. 40 cm above MTL, occurs at the central portion STRUCTURES.—Other than seawalls, artificial of the island. structures on Carrie Bow Cay include two docks SUBSTRATES.—Reef-derived carbonate sand and three buildings with water vats (Figure 51; and rubble on a base of Pleistocene bedrock Plates 1: bottom right, 5: top left). The main or boat (Shinn et al., herein: 63) make up the entire dock to the west (lagoon side) of the cay is 26 m natural substrate of the cay (Figure 52a). Accu- long and built of concrete. A smaller wooden mulation of beach sand varies with the direction dock over the reef flat (SE) serves the two out- and force of wind and currents. Under the influ- houses. The buildings are wooden and include ence of the predominant northeasterly trade the main house, 14 X 12.5 m, “Junior’s House,” winds, sand is deposited at the north point and 13 X 3.5 m (now serving as our project’s labora- northwest beach and around the south tip; at tory), and a small cabin, 5 X 5 m (Figure 60). 80 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MARINE SCIENCES Ficure 52.—Intertidal substrates: a, sandand rubble (mainly conch shells) on western shore, looking north (coconut palms felled by hurricane Greta); b, northwest seawall, coated by algae Cladophoropsi san dOscillatoria t,opple db yGreta. Flora and Fauna beach undercut, which, in our experience, has been flooded by sea water only during hurricane Carrie Bow Cay’s small size, lack of a fresh- tides (see below). ‘water lens, and exposed location near the open SUPRATIDAL OrGANISMS.— The most conspicu- ocean are responsible for the absence of a complex ous, and only permanent, plants, except perhaps permanent terrestrial environment. We distin- for the lichens, are coconut palms (Cocos nucifera guish between an intertidal zone along the shore L.) most of which were planted during the past and a central island area above the high-tide 35 years in at least five recognizable N-S rows. In NUMBER 12 81 May 1979 this population consisted of 58 healthy lished). The remaining vegetation observed in trees, of which 38 were mature and showed either May 1978 and May 1979 (before and after hur- nuts or flowers, 8 were immature (one or more ricane Greta; Table 7) recolonized Carrie Bow years established). and 12 were freshly planted Cay after salt water flooding associated with hur- after hurricane Greta (less than one year estab- ricane Fifi (September 1974) had washed away TABLE 7.—Systematic list and relative abundance of Carrie Bow Cay plants, excluding coconut and others artificially introduced; figures for 1978 show recolonization of the island after hurricane Fifi (September 1974), when all vegetation was destroyed, and are visual estimates; data for 1979 reflect minor changes and losses (indicated by dash) in plant cover caused by hurricane Greta (September 1978) and are compiled from quadrat counts (see “Methods”); likely methods of dispersal are indicated for each plant (B = bird, D = drift, W = wind); approximation of size and frequency of plants is given for 1978 Species L979 (Family) 1978 Method ofm m % total rank dispersal Paspalu mdistichu mL. >5 0.010 0.08 9a D? (Gramineae) Sesuvium portulacastrum (L L.). 0.02—0.50* 2.585 LOIO4 3 D?, Be (Aizoaceae) Philoxeru vsermicular i(sL .B)eauvois 0.02-0.50* - - - D, B? (Amaranthaceae) Suaeda lineari s(Elliott )Moquin <0.01 | 0.015 0.12 8a D, BP (Chenopodiaceae) Portula coalerace La. [085 4.825 37.22 1 B? (Portulacaceae) Coccolob uavife rLa. <0.01 - - - D, B? (Polygonaceae) Cakile lanceolata (Willdenow) O .E .Schulz 0.5-1.07 S219 DIAG 2 D (Cruciferae) Rhizopho rmaang Lle. - 0.010 0.08 9b D (Rhizophoraceae) Euphorbi ablodgett aEngelman ne xHitchcock leo 0.185 et 6 B? (Euphorbiaceae) Euphor mbieasembrianthemif oJalicaquin 1-5** 1.820 14.04 4 B? (Euphorbiaceae) Ipomoe apescapra ebrasiliens i(sL .v)a nOoststroom >5 0.190 ey 5 D (Convolvulaceae) Ipomoe satolonifer (aCyrillo G) melin <0.01 - - - > (Convolvulaceae) Tournefort iganaphalode (sL K.)unth <0.01 0.035 0.27 7 D (Boraginaceae) Echpta alba (L. )Hasskark <0.01 - _ - W, B? (Compositae) Unidentifie sdeedling 1 <0.01 0.015 0.12 8b D Ze <0.01 - - D Tot apllan ctover not 12.965 100.03 determined * few medium-sized plants ,each 0.02-0.30 m° * numerous smal lplants ,each 0.01—0.02 m* + few large plants, each >0.3 m* 82 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MARINE SCIENCES or killed all plants except the majority of coconut introduced by supply boats carrying produce. trees (Figure 53). In addition to the species listed Fleas and ticks have been left behind by dogs, the in Table 7, two were recently artificially intro- former at times plaguing sensitive investigators. duced: Casuarina equisetifolia L. (Casuarinaceae) Flying insects are commonly blown over from and Hymenocallis littoralis (Jacquin) Salisbury (Lil- land or larger islands during westerly winds. Most iaceae, sensu lato). At least three species of lichens of the island’s invertebrate fauna, however, con- are common on the northeast surfaces of wind sists of three crustaceans: the hermit crab Coenobita exposed palm trunks: Lecanora subfusca (L.) Achar- clypeatus (Herbst), and the crabs Ocypode quadrata ius, Pyxine cocoes (Swartz) Nylander, and Chiodecton (Fabricius) and Gecarcinus lateralis (Freminville). sp. Only the lizard Anolis sagrec Dumeril and Bi- Although we have noted a variety of insects bron, a species widespread in the West Indies and and a few spiders on Carrie Bow Cay, we have apparently expanding its range onto Caribbean not determined the species and do not know Mexico and Middle America (R. Crombie, pers. whether they are breeding resident populations. comm.), occurs as resident population of verte- Some ants, cockroaches, and spiders are no doubt brates on Carrie Bow Cay. A sea turtle, Caretta caretta (L.), was last seen laying eggs on the island on 28 May 1972 (A. Antonius, pers. comm.). Birds that feed regularly around the cay are the Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis L.), Frigate- bird (Fregata magnificens Mathews), and Osprey (Pandion haliaetus (L.)). Other birds commonly seen include the Boat-tailed Grackle (Casszdix mexicanus (Gmelin)), Common Tern (Sterna hirundo L.), Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster (Boddaert)), Snowy Egret (Leucophoyx thula (Molina)), and Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica L.). An assortment of involuntary visitors from the mainland, such as warblers and flycatchers, arrive exhausted on the island after periods of strong westerly winds. All birds, except the grackle and the swallow, roost eleswhere, most likely on South Water Cay. The grackle may even breed on Carrie Bow Cay because a female was observed gathering mate- rials for nest building. INTERTIDAL OrGANISMS.— The mean tidal range at Carrie Bow Cay is only 15 cm (Kjerfve et al., herein: 47, Table 4). The observed maximum range, however, partly because of wind forcing is more than 40 cm. With a shoreline slope of 90° to 4° the width of the intertidal zone on Carrie Bow Cay ranges between 40 cm on vertical cinder block walls and 6 m at the flat northern point, on the average between 0.5 and 2.0 m. Only during spring tides are wide areas on the reef flat exposed Ficure 53.—Plant cover on north point, May 1978: Ipomoea (Plate 1: bottom right). | pescaprae ,Cakile lanceolata (foreground ,with 0.25 m ’frame), Sandy beaches have a diverse and rich interti- and freshly planted Casuarina tree. dal meiofauna (Kirsteuer, in prep.) but only one NUMBER 12 83 benthic macro-organism, the cerianthid Arachnan- rophyta) the zone below. On the windward side thus nocturnus den Hartog, could be observed at only the calcareous green alga Halimeda opuntia low tide buried in exposed sand on the northeast (L.) Lamouroux, red Laurencia papillosa (Forsskal) shore. Ocypode quadrata crabs, however, temporar- Greville, and some of the Oscillatorra were found ily establish burrows in sand areas exposed at low exposed. nice: | A few specimens of the actinian Stoichactis ane- Rocky substrates support a more varied inter- mone (Ellis) and barnacle Tetraclita stalactifera (La- tidal flora and fauna but differences in abun- marck) were also encountered on the windward dance can be observed between the leeward (west) side. The most abundant crustaceans on the la- and windward (east) sides of the island. Coral goon shore are the hermit crab Clzbanarius tricolor rock, rubble, and concrete blocks of the leeward -(Gibbes), which clusters in great numbers on sea wall are thickly covered by algae (Figures intertidal rock and rubble, and the elusive isopod 52b, 54a). Oscillatoria submembranacea Ardissone Ligia olfersii Brandt, which is particularly com- and Strafforella and Schizothrix mexicana Gormont mon around empty conch shells near the concrete (Cyanophyta), and Cladophoropsis membranacea (C. boat dock. Several crabs are common among Agardh) B¢grgesen (Chlorophyta) occupy the up- rubble and concrete blocks all around the cay. per zone, Padina jamaicans (Collins) Papenfuss Grapsus grapsus L. is the largest and most abun- (Phaeophyta) and Neomeris annulata Dickie (Chlo- dant; other crabs include Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes), Cyclograpsus integer Milne Edwards, and Petrolisthes quadratus Benedict. Among the mol- lusks only gastropods occur intertidally at Carrie Bow Cay. On the windward side Nerita peloronta L., N. versicolor (Gmelin), Littorina nebulosa La- marck, L. zeczac (Gmelin) (Figure 54b), and Tec- tartus muricatus (L.) are found on vertical coral rock and concrete block surfaces of the seawall. Several size classes of juvenile Cittarium pica (L.) cluster among rubble or on beach rock below. Nenita versicolor, L. ziczac, and T. muricatus also occur on the leeward seawall but are less abun- dant there. A few specimens of a single species of echinoderm, the echinoid Echinometra viridis Agas- siz, are found here and there under tide-exposed rocks. Climatic Parameters The climate of Belize is subtropical to tropical, with temperatures ranging from 10° to 36° C (average range in Belize City, 23°-33° C), and rainfall averaging 125-450 cm a year. Tempera- tures are lowest in the highlands and during the cool period of the year (November to March). Average rainfall increases from north to south: Ficure 54.—Intertida lorganisms ;a ,algae Cladophoropsi sand he Oscillatoria (top) ,Neomerts and Padina (bottom )on concrete the rainy season lasts from June to October. [ block seawall; 6 ,gastropod Littorina ziczac on cora lboulder. overall climate of the country, particularly of the (Picture width, a = 70 cm; 6 = 5 cm.) outer cays, is influenced by northeasterly trade 84 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MARINE SCIENCES winds that prevail at velocities of 4-5 m/s during during January and February (22° C, 21° C). about 70% of the year. Our meteorological rec- Solar radiation measurements are only available ords from Carrie Bow Cay, although not contin- for the cay and for the months of March through uous, indicate major patterns of temperatures, June, and November. The highest total radiation solar radiation and cloudiness, wind, and rainfall reaching the ground on a single day was recorded and allow some comparisons with conditions pre- during April and May and amounted to 490 cal/ vailing on the mainland. In addition, 12-day cm’. Monthly averages of daily radiation related continuous measurements of radiation, evapora- to this value give an indication of cloudiness and tion, wind, and air-water-sand temperatures in haze (Figure 55). June 1975 were reported by Kjerfve (1978). Winp.—Measurements of wind direction, TEMPERATURE AND SOLAR RADIATION.—Figure speed, and frequency on Carrie Bow Cay are 55 presents monthly temperature records, except summarized in Figures 56 and 57. Values for for July and December. Data for January, Feb- March- June show the typical situation: northeas- ruary, and August to October are the result of a terly trade winds predominate and compare well single year’s readings; other data were derived with published wind roses from the open ocean from at least three consecutive years of observa- surface off Belize (United States Naval Oceano- tion. Values are plotted against a background of graphic Office, 1963). Our observations on wind ten-year average minimum and maximum tem- for the rest of the year are sparse and may not be perature readings provided by the Melinda Forest representative of long-term averages. Speed val- Station near Dangriga, on the mainland of Belize. ues for the infrequent winds from the northwest Temperature conditions on the cay follow closely sector are somewhat low because of the shading those on land, where the highest averages occur effect of the big house and of coconut trees. during May and August (33° C) and the lowest RAINFALL AND Humipity.—Long-term rainfall 83% 86% [¢ AG poO 40 e |a tsa sel|) 35 30 30 25 LIT 25 20 @ Air @ Sand A Ree fFlat La@goon Mainland Figure 55.—Monthly temperatures (mean, range) 1976-1980 and solar radiation (percentage of maximum) 1978-1980 for Carrie Bow Cay; monthly temperature range (shaded area) at Melinda Forest Station on mainland, averaged over a ten-year period, 1965-1975. NUMBER 12 85 Jan/Feb (25) Sl Legend 6-8 9-14 >14 m/s 20 Frequency Speed Calm 1-5 6-8 = -|4 >14 m L/e Frequency Jan/Feb FicuRE 56 (above).—Wind roses for Carrie Bow Cay indi- cating direction ,speed ,and frequency (figures in parentheses are numbers o fobservations during 1976-1980). Apr (> Figure 57 (right).—Monthly summaries of wind speed fre- quencies during 1976-1980, Carrie Bow Cay. May Ca ,, data taken at the Melinda Forest Station indicate Jun ( =» an average annual accumulation of 218 cm for the Dangriga district. The range is from 4.4 cm Oct/Nov _F in March to 30.4 cm in September. Values for Carrie Bow Cay are presented in Figure 58 and compared with the mainland averages. The is- 86 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MARINE SCIENCES me Sprit eO pconte weeoe. M gZ Daily Maximum Mainland Figure 58.—Monthly average (total bar) and daily maximum rainfall on Carrie Bow Cay (1976-1980), compared with mainland monthly rainfall (Melinda Forest Station) averaged over a 71-year period (1906-1977). land receives, on the average, only 42 prcent of have passed Carrie Bow Cay within a 50 km the mainland rainfall if one excludes February radius. Storm activity in this area seems to have and December for which comparative data are increased recently as six of the hurricanes and the lacking. The high value (279 mm) for November most violent of tropical storms (Laura) have oc- may be a peculiarity of the year (1979) in which curred within the last 20 years (Table 8). the record was taken. Or the other hand, a second Hattie is the only storm for which the long- but incomplete measurement of 213 mm (1978, term effects on Belizean reefs and cays, including November 14-26) indicates a similarly high or Carrie Bow Cay, have been monitored (Stoddart, even higher rainfall during that month. Humidity measured between March and June TasLe 8.—Hurricanes passing within 50 km radius of Carrie averaged 78 percent, with a range of 58-96 per- Bow Cay, 1960-1980, including name, date, and maximum cent. sustained wind speed while storm center was within 50 km of Carrie Bow Cay Recent Hurricane Effects on Carrie Bow Cay Ata Wind speed Month/Year (km/h) Computer files of the United States National Hurricane Center (P) J, Hebert.) pers) comm:) Abby Jul 1960 128 indicate that at least 20 hurricanes and 45 tropi- Anna Jul 1961 148 cal cyclones have passed within 100 nautical miles Hattie Oct 1961 299Francelia Aug 1969 182 (185 km) of Belize City (17°30’N, 88°18’W) dur- Laura* Nov 1971 Wb ing the last century (records date back to Novem- Fifi Sep 1974 176 ber 1889). From these data it can be determined Greta Sep 1978 that nine hurricanes and seven tropical storms * Officially declared a tropical storm. NUMBER 12 187 1963, 1969, 1974). Other recent hurricane reports inland flooding of rivers. The hurricane crossed include a brief eyewitness account of tropical the barrier reef approximately 20 km south of cyclone Laura passing over Glover’s Reef and Carrie Bow Cay and reached the coast of southern Stann Creek (Dangriga) (Antonius, 1972), and Belize during the afternoon of 19 September. observations on the impact of hurricane Greta on Our observations on the effects of Fifi on Carrie the reef community near Carrie Bow Cay (High- Bow Cay rely on a survey in December 1974 as smith et al., 1980). 7 no eyewitness reports are available. Storm surge Huricane Fir1 (14-22 September 1974).—A flooded the entire island, and most of the uncon- tropical depression south of Puerto Rico and solidated sand was either piled up high inside the Hispaniola moving westward developed into hur- buildings or carried away, leaving a surface of ricane Fifi on 17 September. Fifi, as reported by coral rubble and exposed palm tree roots. A Hope (1975), acquired its maximum sustained comparison of photographs (Figure 59) and a winds of 95 kt (176 km/h) while it moved along map of Carrie Bow Cay prepared by D. R. Stod- the coast of Honduras, 18-19 September, where dart in 1972 (Figure 60a) indicate that coastal heavy rains caused a high number of deaths by erosion was strongest to the north, northeast, and Figure 59.—Carrie Bow Cay silhouettes looking east: a, February 1972; 6, December 1974, three months after hurricane Fifi. Note reduction of island size, in number of trees, and density of leaves caused by the hurricane. 88 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MARINE SCIENCES x) 47¢ we,Seen - 7 eo S=e Seance" ee? oSSD meters I972 1:974 I974 :1978 Old New Coconut Palms ee —— Mean Tide Level r) Live MM MAAK ~~=CUndercut Shoreline fo) Planted after Fifi -—-- --- Submerged Sand Spit 4 Stump Ficure 60.—Maps of Carrie Bow Cay showing hurricane effects and poststorm recovery: a, changes 1972-1974, caused principally by hurricane Fifi, September 1974; 6, recovery, Decem- ber 1974 to May 1978. | NUMBER 12 89 | | Figure 61.—Effects of hurricane Fifi: a, eroded north point of Carrie Bow Cay with fallen coconut palms ,looking northeast ;b ,submerged bank of sand originating from northern portion o fthe island ,looking northwest. 90 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MARINE SCIENCES south of the island. About 30% of the island’s laboratory caved in. Despite damage to buildings, surface area was lost, but some of it was regained coastal erosion was considerably lower than dur- by subsequent deposition along the western ing Fifi. About 20 coconut trees were lost, most of shoreline. Most island sand, however, settled as a these from the leeward side of the island. Other subtidal sand bank to the northwest of the cay plants were much less affected by Greta than by (Figure 615). The eastern seawall and outhouse the 1974 hurricane as only one common and four dock were destroyed and a huge tree stump, minor species disappeared (Table 7). situated for years on the reef flat to the east, was floated to the new south tip of the cay. At least Summary and Conclusions 14 coconut trees, predominantly from the north point and northeast shore were uprooted by ero- From its position, structure, and flora, Carrie sion and either fell in place (Figure 61a) or were Bow Cay can be classified as a reef-derived sand carried into the lagoon and sank. Others lost their cay. It is located at the seaward margin of the tops in the storm or withered from overexposure barrier reef, 1s composed of reef rubble and sand, to salt water. All other plants previously recorded and is held together primarily by coconut rootlets (Stoddart, 1969), such as low Tournefortia bushes, and, to a lesser degree, by ground cover and Euphorbia, Ipomoea, and Sesuvium ground cover, and artificial structures. The island measured a little grasses, disappeared and did not recover to the over two acres (0.8 ha) when it was bought by approximate prehurricane condition until spring the present owners in 1943. Today it is less than 1978. By that time, with the help of seawalls and half that size and exposed beachrock on the wind- rubble fills, much of the prehurricane island out- ward side indicates westward (leeward) migra- line was restored (Figure 604). tion, which confirms the view that sand cays of HurrRICANE GretTA (13-23 September 1978).— this nature are slowly migrating sand waves (Mil- The track of Greta was almost identical to that of lhmans 97/3). Fifi, and both storms occurred at almost the same Because of its small size, low elevation, and time in September. The meterorological history porous substrate, Carrie Bow Cay lacks a fresh- of Greta is described by Lawrence (1979). A water lens and it has not developed a complex depression formed northwest of Trinidad on 13 terrestrial environment. Considering the occa- September. Hurricane force with sustained winds sional salt water flooding during storm tides, the of 115 kt (213 km/h) developed at a position island may be described as a supralittoral habitat. south of Jamaica on 16 September. Moving over The climate, too, is dominated by the surround- the Bay Islands off the north coast of Honduras, ing ocean and by northeasterly trade winds; it is Greta weakened and made its landfall with 80 kt moderate in comparison with the nearest main- (148 km/h) winds near Dangriga on the evening land. of 19 September. Greta was a much more severe Clearing of vegetation during this century and hurricane than Fifi but despite locally heavy rain increased hurricane activity in the area during it did not cause devastating river floods (P. J. the past two decades are mainly responsible for Hebert, pers. comm.). the rapid shrinking of Carrie Bow Cay. Captain The eye of hurricane Greta passed Carrie Bow Owen, who mapped the island as “Jack Ellin’s Cay about 6 km to the north and brought the Cay” in 1830; noted “tops of bushess 20M icet island winds of approximately 95 kt (176 km/h). (Stoddart, 1963), presumably seagrape, baycedar, Although direct observations are lacking, a con- and mangrove. Coconuts planted in the early - siderable storm tide (about two meters above 1900s, and repeatedly again since, may not be normal, estimated from events at Dangriga) must equally effective in holding the sand, also, they have flooded the island because the smallest cot- do not protrude into the intertidal to trap sedi- tage disappeared and the ocean-side wall of the ments or break the power of waves or currents. NUMBER 12 91 Although physiographic change of the cay was vided by M.-H. Sachet). Our own findings sug- minor during hurricane Hattie (Stoddart, 1963, gest that only four of 16 species of plants—coco- 1969), later storms, Fifi in particular, took severe nut, red mangrove, and two unidentified seed- toll. Recovery of plant cover destoyed by Fifi took lings—arrived by sea and sprouted. None of them about four years. Colonization of sand cays is survived beyond two years because of the unsuit- thought to be primarily by floating seeds or by able location of settlement. Experimental studies seeds carried by birds (Stoddart, 1960), or by on natural means of island colonization should be wind, but direct observations on these processes the next step in elucidating the terrestrial devel- are sparse. Possible means of dispersal judged opment of Carrie Bow Cay. from seed type are listed in Table 7 (data pro- Literature Cited Antonius A, . Endean ,editors ,Bology and Geology o fCora lReefs, 1972. Hurricane Laura, Witnessed in British Honduras. 1:1-50. New York and London: Academic Press. Ato Rllesearc hBulletin 1,62:11—12. Stoddart, D. R. | Highsmith, R. C., A. C. Riggs, and C. M. D’Antonio 1960. The Reefs and Sand Cays of British Honduras. 1980. Survival of Hurricane-generated Coral Fragments In Cambridge Expedition to British Honduras ,1959- and a Disturbance Model of Reef Calcification/ 1960, General Report, pages 16-22. Cambridge, Growth Rate .Oecologia (Berlin) 46:322-329. England. Hope, J. R. 1963. Effects of Hurricane Hattie on the British Hon- 1975. Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1974. Monthly duras Reefs and Cays. October 30-31, 1961. Atoll Weathe Rreview 1,03:285-293. Resear cBhullet i9n5, :1—142. Kirsteuer, E. ey 1969. Post-Hurricane Changes on the British Honduras In prep. Horizontal and Vertical Migrations of Ototyphlo- Reefs and Cays: Re-survey, 1965. Atoll Research nemertes (Nemertinea) in a Sandy Beach at Carrie Bullen jl lor Bow Cay ,Belize. 1974. Post-Hurricane Changes on the British Honduras Kjerfve B, . Reefs: Re-survey, 1972. In A. M. Cameron et al., 1978. Diurnal Energy Balance of a Caribbean Barrier editors P, roceeding so tfh eSecon dInternationa Cl oral Reef Environment. Bulletin of Marine Science, 28: Reef Sympsowm, 2:473-483. Brisbane, Australia: 137-145. The Great Barrier Reef Committee. Lawrence ,M .B. United States Naval Oceanographic Office 1979. Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1978. Monthly 1963. Oceanographic Atlas of the North Atlantic Ocean, Weathe Rreview 1,07:477-491. Section IV: Sea and Swell. United States Naval Milliman, J. D. Oceanographic Office ,Publication ,700 :227 pages. 1973. Caribbean Coral Reefs. In O. A. Jones and R. Washington D, .C. Rützler, Klaus and Ferraris, Joan D. 1982. "Terrestrial Environment and Climate, Carrie Bow Cay, Belize." The Atlantic Barrier Reef Ecosystem at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize 12, 77–91. 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