ABSTRACT
The awesome power of hurricanes to reshape nature-as well as man’s existence-is of obvious importance in southern Florida. Their ecological impact can be seen in many plant communities especially forested areas, but their effect is most prominent in the lower elevation, coastal communities where raging winds and rapidly moving high water rearrange not only trees but also terrain. These effects combined with rising sea level over the past several thousand years have shaped our coastal features (see Chapter 10). Were it not for hurricanes, certain coastal habitats would not exist.
