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<p>The brown alga <i>Rugulopteryx okamurae</i> has rapidly expanded across the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic regions, where it has been associated with ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Here, we report the first record of <i>R. okamurae</i> in the Western Atlantic, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The species was observed forming extensive banks between 7 and 19&#xa0;m depth at Papagaios Island, in Cabo Frio, in close contact with the endemic and threatened octocoral <i>Phyllogorgia dilatata</i>. Species identification was confirmed by morphological observations and molecular analysis based on the <i>psbA</i> marker. Phylogenetic analysis strongly supported the identification of the Brazilian specimens as <i>R. okamurae,</i> while haplotype analysis revealed seven haplotypes globally, with the highest diversity observed in the Northwestern Pacific, its native region. The Brazilian specimens shared a haplotype related to Japanese lineages but differed from those reported in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. These findings suggest that the Brazilian introduction may represent an independent event rather than secondary spread from Europe. We also detected a second haplotype in the Azores, indicating a more complex introduction history in the Atlantic than previously recognized. Although the impacts of <i>R. okamurae</i> at Papagaios Island remain to be quantified, its local abundance highlights the need to delimit its range and manage the expansion of the species along the Brazilian coast.</p>

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First record of the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae in the Western Atlantic

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月11日

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  • A. C. P. Lannes-Vieira,
  • J. E. A. Gonçalves,
  • A. D. Kassuga,
  • R. Coutinho,
  • J. C. De Paula,
  • F. Salgueiro

摘要

The brown alga Rugulopteryx okamurae has rapidly expanded across the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic regions, where it has been associated with ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Here, we report the first record of R. okamurae in the Western Atlantic, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The species was observed forming extensive banks between 7 and 19 m depth at Papagaios Island, in Cabo Frio, in close contact with the endemic and threatened octocoral Phyllogorgia dilatata. Species identification was confirmed by morphological observations and molecular analysis based on the psbA marker. Phylogenetic analysis strongly supported the identification of the Brazilian specimens as R. okamurae, while haplotype analysis revealed seven haplotypes globally, with the highest diversity observed in the Northwestern Pacific, its native region. The Brazilian specimens shared a haplotype related to Japanese lineages but differed from those reported in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. These findings suggest that the Brazilian introduction may represent an independent event rather than secondary spread from Europe. We also detected a second haplotype in the Azores, indicating a more complex introduction history in the Atlantic than previously recognized. Although the impacts of R. okamurae at Papagaios Island remain to be quantified, its local abundance highlights the need to delimit its range and manage the expansion of the species along the Brazilian coast.