Long-term changes in benthic communities following the invasion by an alien octocoral in the Southwest Atlantic, Brazil

Invasive alien species are considered one of the main threats to marine biodiversity. We used a BACI design to investigate the changes in rocky reef benthic communities related to the invasion of the octocoral Latissimia ningalooensis in the Southwest Atlantic. Drastic changes in benthic community s...

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Veröffentlicht in:Marine pollution bulletin 2023-01, Vol.186, p.114386-114386, Article 114386
Hauptverfasser: de Carvalho-Junior, Lécio, Neves, Leonardo M., Teixeira-Neves, Tatiana P., Cardoso, Simone J.
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Invasive alien species are considered one of the main threats to marine biodiversity. We used a BACI design to investigate the changes in rocky reef benthic communities related to the invasion of the octocoral Latissimia ningalooensis in the Southwest Atlantic. Drastic changes in benthic community structure were restricted to the invaded site and associated with the growth of L. ningalooensis on turf algae. Conversely, the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum remained stable coverage along the 9-year study period, indicating a greater biotic resistance against the octocoral. Latissimia ningalooensis spread from large and well-established patches to new areas of the reef, increasing turf-octocoral interactions. This study warns of the great invasive potential of the octocoral, due to its high abundance, competitive and expansion ability. The decline in abundance of turf-forming algae following the emergence of L. ningalooensis threatens the structure and functioning of macroalgal-dominated rocky reefs. [Display omitted] •The alien octocoral was largely associated with changes in the benthic community.•Changes were associated with the growth of the invader on turf algae.•Zoanthid cover remained stable indicating a greater biotic resistance.•The invader is spreading through turf-octocoral interactions.•Invasive octocorals threatens macroalgal-dominated rocky reefs.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114386