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The invasion of the azooxanthellate coral Tubastraea (Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae) throughout the world: history, pathways and vectors

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Abstract

In this review, we describe the history, pathways and vectors of the biological invasion of the azooxanthellate coral Tubastraea (Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae) throughout the world. In order to do so we consulted previous reports in the literature and also compiled new unpublished information on the distribution of the three species of Tubastraea which have been reported as non indigenous species, both within their native and non-native ranges and also on vectors, and where cryptogenic. We combine these data with historical aspects of marine vectors in order to get insights into how Tubastraea species have successfully spread around the world, established and invaded and where future studies would be best focused. T. coccinea and T. tagusensis are recognized as being highly invasive and are causing significant environmental, economic, and social impacts requiring management actions. The third species, T. micranthus so far only reported outside its native range on oil platforms, may have similar potential for negative impact. The vectors of introduction of Tubastraea may have changed throughout history and the biological invasion of these invasive corals may reflect changing practices, demands and legislation in shipping activities over the years. Today it is clear that these corals are fouling organisms strongly associated with oil and gas platforms worldwide which are thus primary vectors for new introductions.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank those who contributed with personal communications. We also thank Jorge Miguel Rodrigues Fontes, Scott A. Porter, Leonardo Schlögel Bueno and Gilberto Morão/Projeto Coral-Sol for kindly giving permission to use their photographs as well as Jim Carlton and an anonymous reviewer for their comments which improved the manuscript. JCC would especially like to thank Anna Maria Scofano (Petrobras) whose comments encouraged the publication of this review and provided further information regarding contaminated platforms operating in Brazil. We acknowledge funding by Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro—Prociencia, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq n° 151431/2014-0, Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro—FAPERJ and Brazilian Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). ICSC acknowledges a postdoctoral grant by Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo—(2014/17815-0). RJM thanks The Rufford Foundation for financial support to Projeto Corais da Baía (Small Grant n°13119-1). This is Scientific Contribution No. 26 of the Projeto Coral-Sol.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Ecologia Marinha Bêntica, Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, PHLC Sala 220, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20550-900, Brazil

    Joel C. Creed

  2. Contractor with Ocean Associates, PO Box 7390, Pago Pago, American Samoa, 96799, USA

    Douglas Fenner

  3. Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), 8124 Hwy. 56, Chauvin, LA, 70344, USA

    Paul Sammarco

  4. Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20560, USA

    Stephen Cairns

  5. Programa de Pós graduação em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Kátia Capel

  6. Instituto de Biologia. Ilha do Fundão, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-913, Brazil

    Andrea O. R. Junqueira

  7. Instituto Oceanográfico, Universidade de São Paulo, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191 - Sala 112 - Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-120, Brazil

    Igor Cruz

  8. Laboratório de Ecologia Bentônica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Biomonitoramento, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, CEP 40170-290, Brazil

    Ricardo J. Miranda

  9. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, PHLC, sala 220, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20559-900, Brazil

    Lélis Carlos-Junior & Marcelo Checoli Mantelatto

  10. Instituto Brasileiro de Biodiversidade - BrBio, Rua Senador Dantas, 20/1509 Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20.031-203, Brazil

    Simone Oigman-Pszczol

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  1. Joel C. Creed
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  2. Douglas Fenner
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Correspondence to Joel C. Creed.

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Creed, J.C., Fenner, D., Sammarco, P. et al. The invasion of the azooxanthellate coral Tubastraea (Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae) throughout the world: history, pathways and vectors. Biol Invasions 19, 283–305 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-016-1279-y

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