Distribution of the invasive orange cup coral Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829 in an upwelling area in the South Atlantic Ocean fifteen years after its first record

Daniela Batista,Moacir Apolinário,Ricardo Coutinho,Héctor Messano,Leandro Elias,Luciana Altvater,Jose Gonçalves,Rogério Candella,Luciana De Messano

doi:10.3391/ai.2017.12.1.03

Abstract

Distribution of the invasive orange cup coral Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829 in an upwelling area in the South Atlantic Ocean fifteen years after its first record

Highlights

The globalization of maritime trade plays a key role in the spread of marine species beyond their native ranges since many of them are dispersed as fouling on vessels and in ballast water (Seebens et al 2013; Williams et al 2013; Katsanevakis et al 2014)
We described the distribution and abundance of T. coccinea at Arraial do Cabo Bay fifteen years after its first record, and these data were related to local currents, to a dispersion model of particles, and to sea surface temperatures (SST)
The present survey showed that the orange cup coral expanded its distribution during the last fifteen years in Arraial do Cabo Bay (23oS; SE Brazil)

Summary

Introduction

The globalization of maritime trade plays a key role in the spread of marine species beyond their native ranges since many of them are dispersed as fouling on vessels and in ballast water (Seebens et al 2013; Williams et al 2013; Katsanevakis et al 2014). While Ilha Grande Bay is located in a typical tropical area, Arraial do Cabo is within the central zone of the Cabo Frio upwelling system (CoelhoSouza et al 2012), and it is recognized as an unusual region where tropical and subtropical species cooccur (Guimaraens and Coutinho 1996; Ferreira 2003; Granthom-Costa et al 2016). Both localities have port areas with vessel traffic related to commercial, recreational, offshore, and fisheries activities

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Results

Conclusion