ABSTRACT
The rise in seawater temperature due to industrial activities is one of the main threats to marine biodiversity. In nuclear power plants, large volumes of water are used for their operation, returning to the ecosystem at higher temperatures. A global meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the thermal effects caused by coastal nuclear power plants on marine organisms. We found 853 articles of which, 99 were included in the qualitative analysis and 75 in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed an increase of 4.38 °C in water temperature near the outfall, and the temperature variation of each study was found to be associated with the power plant latitudes. The main effects on organisms were related to changes in the structure and composition of aquatic communities, with species abundance, distribution, dominance, and density being the most cited ones. Among the affected groups, photosynthesizing microorganisms were the most cited, potentially contributing to shifts in ecosystem dynamics.
ABSTRACT
Invasive alien species are considered one of the main threats to marine biodiversity. We used a BACI design to investigate the changes in rocky reef benthic communities related to the invasion of the octocoral Latissimia ningalooensis in the Southwest Atlantic. Drastic changes in benthic community structure were restricted to the invaded site and associated with the growth of L. ningalooensis on turf algae. Conversely, the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum remained stable coverage along the 9-year study period, indicating a greater biotic resistance against the octocoral. Latissimia ningalooensis spread from large and well-established patches to new areas of the reef, increasing turf-octocoral interactions. This study warns of the great invasive potential of the octocoral, due to its high abundance, competitive and expansion ability. The decline in abundance of turf-forming algae following the emergence of L. ningalooensis threatens the structure and functioning of macroalgal-dominated rocky reefs.
