Pulse disturbances from hurricanes differentially structure temporal α‐ and β‐diversity in coastal benthic communities

Coastal benthic community structure is shaped by a dynamic interplay between pulse disturbances, such as hurricanes, and press stressors, such as coastal land loss and climate change. We examined a five‑year time series of a benthic community and environmental data from Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana, spanning five major hurricanes. Repeated, high‑intensity hurricanes produced abrupt, short‑term declines in macrofaunal α‑diversity (species richness and Hill numbers), particularly within the first one to three months post‑disturbance. In contrast, temporal β‑diversity exhibited more gradual and context‑dependent responses, with pulses of turnover driven by species losses 1–3 months post‑storm and by gains in subsequent months. After accounting for environmental covariates, hurricane effects on β‑diversity diminished, whereas α‑diversity remained strongly depressed, indicating that compositional shifts are more strongly modulated by ambient environmental conditions (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll) than by hurricane‐induced environmental changes. Differences in storm intensity, duration, and directness of impact further shaped these responses. Our results highlight that disturbance effects on α‑ and β‑diversity are decoupled in time and mechanism: pulse events rapidly reset richness while longer‑term press drivers and disturbance recovery govern community reorganization. Integrating pulse and press perspectives improves predictions of resilience, recovery, and long‑term stability in coastal ecosystems facing increasing extreme weather under climate change.