Western boundary currents drive sun-coral (Tubastraea spp.) coastal invasion from oil platforms.

ABSTRACT: Most marine species have a planktonic larval phase that benefit from the surface oceanic flow to enhance their dispersion potential. For invasive species, the interaction of environmentally resistant larvae with different flow regimes and artificial substrates can lead to complex larval dispersion patterns and boost geographic expansion. In the Southwest Atlantic, the invasive corals Tubastraea spp. (sun-coral) have been recorded biofouling on oil platforms since the late 1980s. These platforms are considered important vectors for the established populations throughout the Brazilian coast. However, we still do not know how the position of these structures relative to regional flow contribute to the natural dispersion potential of these invaders on a regional scale. Herein, we used an eddy-

SUBMITTER: Coelho SCC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8960833 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature