Rocky shore wars: an ecological resistance for survival in a Brazilian Hope Spot

Autores

  • Augusto A. Machado Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Natureza (PPGCIN) - (São Mateus - Rodovia BR 101 Norte, Km. nº 60 - CEUNES - DCBA- 29932-540 - ES, Brazil)
  • Maria L. Abieri Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia (PPGE) - (Rio de Janeiro - Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, nº 373, Ilha do Fundão - 21941-590 - RJ, Brazil).
  • Larissa M. Pires-Teixeira Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução (PPGEE) - (Rio de Janeiro - Rua São Francisco Xavier, nº 524, Maracanã - 20559-900 - RJ, Brazil).
  • Aline A. Aguiar Projeto Ilhas do Rio, Instituto Mar Adentro (Rio de Janeiro - Rua Figueiredo de Magalhães, nº 286, Copacabana - 22031-012 - RJ, Brazil).
  • Maurício Hostim-Silva Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Natureza (PPGCIN) - (São Mateus - Rodovia BR 101 Norte, Km. nº 60 - CEUNES - DCBA- 29932-540 - ES, Brazil).
  • Áthila A. Bertoncini Projeto Ilhas do Rio, Instituto Mar Adentro (Rio de Janeiro - Rua Figueiredo de Magalhães, nº 286, Copacabana - 22031-012 - RJ, Brazil).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/2675-2824074.25113

Palavras-chave:

Biological invasions, South Atlantic, Ecological Resilience, Marine Protected Area, Ocean Management

Resumo

Biological invasions are a major driver of biodiversity loss, altering community structure and ecosystem functions in marine environments. The sun coral (Tubastraea spp.), an Indo-Pacific invasive alien species, has successfully colonized Brazilian rocky shores, displacing native species and disrupting ecological interactions. This study documents 11 ecologically interacting species engaging in biotic resistance against sun coral in a Brazilian Hope Spot. Field surveys and photographic records revealed interactions between Tubastraea spp. and native species, suggesting their potential role in limiting the spread of this invasive coral. While active management strategies, including manual removal, have proven effective in controlling Tubastraea spp., the role of natural competitors in mitigating the invasion remains underexplored. This study provides new insights on interactions of native species with sun coral and thus, contributes to the understanding of natural ecological resistance mechanisms against biological invasions in the marine environment.

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Publicado

2026-07-31

Edição

v. 74 (2026): Ocean and Coastal Research (regular volume)

Seção

Brief Communication

Licença

Creative Commons License

Este trabalho está licenciado sob uma licença Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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Como Citar

Rocky shore wars: an ecological resistance for survival in a Brazilian Hope Spot. (2026). Ocean and Coastal Research, 74, 9. https://doi.org/10.1590/2675-2824074.25113