Using the pre-existing quantitative data collected before the
tsunami, we evaluated its impact on benthic communities by
quantifying animal diversity and abundance. Our findings were
based on data collected at only 2 seagrass beds in one locality, and
thus their general applicability remains unknown. Nevertheless,
our study offers some insight into the variability of benthic
organisms in general, i.e., the pattern of temporal changes in
benthic animals varies between sites with different disturbance
levels and between positions with and without seagrass vegetation.