These divers are killing a beautiful coral to save Brazil’s marine life.
Marine biologist Adriana Gomes and a team of volunteer divers are removing invasive sun coral colonies one by one from the protected Cagarras Islands off Rio de Janeiro, while Brazil pursues a national plan against the invasion.
Marine biologist Adriana Gomes of Brazil's Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) and a team of volunteer divers are removing invasive sun coral from the waters around the Cagarras Islands, according to a video report from Mongabay. The archipelago is a protected marine area about 5 kilometers (3 miles) off Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Sun coral (Tubastraea coccinea and Tubastraea tagusensis) is native to the Indo-Pacific. It was first seen in Brazil in the 1980s, attached to an offshore oil platform in Rio de Janeiro state, and has spread quickly since. Estimates cited by Mongabay suggest it can expand by about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) per year. It is now found along roughly 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) of the Brazilian coast.
The coral has no natural predators in Brazil to keep it in check. It can come to dominate rocky reefs by outcompeting native species for space. Mongabay also reports that it releases chemicals that harm neighboring corals, including Brazil's native brain and star corals.
The effects reach beyond the corals themselves. As sun coral takes over a reef, small reef-dwelling organisms can disappear, and fish populations may decline. Research cited in the report suggests that once sun coral covers 45% of a rocky reef, the ecosystem may already be profoundly altered.
Brazil created a National Plan in 2018 to prevent, control and monitor the invasion. It brings together scientists, conservationists and public authorities, and Mongabay says the effort could offer lessons for other countries. At the Cagarras Islands, Gomes and her volunteers take out sun coral colonies one by one. The archipelago has been designated a Hope Spot, a place recognized as critical to ocean health. The video follows the team's underwater work.
At a Glance
- Sun coral was first seen in Brazil in the 1980s, on an offshore oil platform in Rio de Janeiro state.
- It now occurs along about 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) of Brazil's coast and may spread about 2 kilometers per year.
- Brazil launched a National Plan to prevent, control and monitor the invasion in 2018.
- The Cagarras Islands lie 5 kilometers (3 miles) off Ipanema Beach and are designated a Hope Spot.
- Research suggests a reef may be profoundly altered once sun coral covers 45% of it.
Sources
This brief was written by Brightside Report from the reporting linked above. Spot an error? Request a correction.