Occurrence of the Non-Native Species Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879) in Brazilian Protected Areas: Ecological Risks and the Urgency of Monitoring

Abstract

The occurrence of the non-native species Macrobrachium rosenbergii has been recorded in multiple drainage basins and estuarine systems throughout Brazil, including 11 coastal Protected Areas. In the Cananéia estuarine–lagoon complex, participatory monitoring conducted between 2015 and 2025 revealed persistent populations and the presence of ovigerous females, indicating local establishment and reproduction. The species exhibits broad tolerance to salinity gradients and marked trophic plasticity, allowing its integration into native ecological networks. Records are concentrated in the Southeast and Northeast regions and are closely associated with aquaculture areas. The presence of this invasive crustacean in sensitive estuarine ecosystems, such as the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, represents a serious threat to native biodiversity by intensifying competitive interactions, altering trophic dynamics, and increasing sanitary risks, thereby requiring urgent monitoring and management actions.

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