Distribution of the invasive orange cup coral Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829 in an upwelling area in the South Atlantic Ocean fifteen years after its first record

A survey of the distribution and abundance of the invasive orange cup coral Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829 was conducted using photoquadrats during 2014/2015, fifteen years after its first documented introduction in a Cabo Frio upwelling area in the western South Atlantic (42 degrees 00'W-22 degrees 44'S). These data were related to local currents and to a dispersion model of particles and with sea surface temperatures (SST). The objective was to investigate how variations in environmental conditions (local currents and temperatures) influence the dispersion and survival of T. coccinea. Complementary laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the effects of low temperatures on the survival of this species. T. coccinea has expanded its distribution and larval dispersion seems to be driven by the local currents. Furthermore, higher densities of colonies and recruits were observed within areas with higher water temperatures (>20 degrees C), while no coral was found in the area of direct upwelling influence, suggesting that cold waters limited the distribution of T. coccinea. These findings were corroborated by laboratory experiments that showed a negative effect of cold water (<= 12.5 degrees C) on colony survival. The present data contribute to our understanding of the worldwide geographical expansion of T. coccinea and could be particularly important for management decisions to prevent new invasions.