Soares et al. 2022

Alien hotspot: Benthic marine species introduced in the Brazilian semiarid coast

Soares MO, de Lima Xavier FR, Dias NM, da Silva MQ, de Lima JP, Barroso CX, Vieira LM, Paiva SV, Matthews-Cascon H, Bezerra LE, Oliveira-Filho RR, Salani S, Bandeira EVP

scientific article Mar Pollut Bull
Abstract

In this study, we provide a baseline assessment of introduced marine species along the extensive (~600 km) Brazilian semiarid coast. We reported 27 introduced and 26 cryptogenic species. Moreover, the main vectors of introduction were ballast water, shipping lines, oil and gas activities, biofouling, and rafting on plastic debris. The taxa were Ascidiacea (17 species) and Bryozoa (17), followed by Crustacea (6), Mollusca (6), Cnidaria (3), Echinodermata (3), and Porifera (1). Among these invertebrates, some species are recognized as drivers of impacts such as the invasive corals (Tubastraea tagusensis and Tubastraea coccinea), the bivalves Isognomom bicolor and Perna viridis, the crab Charybdis hellerii, the brittle star Ophiothela mirabilis, and, finally, the bryozoan Membraniporopsis tubigera. These species threaten the biodiversity of unique ecosystems such as intertidal sandstone reefs, shallow-water coral reefs, and mesophotic ecosystems. Moreover, the up-to-date results highlight that this region is a hotspot of bioinvasion in the tropical South Atlantic.

Keywords
Metadata (pending validation)
Depth Range
20–60 m
Mesophotic Mentions
3 × (total of 3805 words)
Classification
  • Presents original data
  • Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range
  • Focused on 'mesophotic coral ecosystem'
Fields
Biodiversity
Author Profiles