Invasive sun coral (Tubastraea coccinea and Tubastraea tagusensis), native to the Indo-Pacific, is rapidly spreading along Brazil’s coastline, threatening native marine life. First detected in the 1980s, it can expand at a rate of 2 kilometers per year and now impacts approximately 3,500 kilometers of the Brazilian coast.
Without natural predators, sun coral dominates rocky reefs, outcompeting native corals and harming others with released chemicals. This takeover reduces small reef-dwelling organisms and can lead to declining fish populations. Research indicates significant ecosystem alteration when sun coral covers 45% of a reef. Brazil established a National Plan in 2018 to address the invasion, involving scientists, conservationists, and authorities. Teams, including volunteer divers led by marine biologist Adriana Gomes, are manually removing sun coral colonies around the Cagarras Islands.
Source: Mongabay