Environmental factors influence Southeast Brazil's coastal biodiversity more than ecological processes, study finds

Sea surface temperature, wave energy and freshwater discharge from rivers influence the abundance and size of the marine organisms that inhabit rocky shores along the coast of Southeast Brazil more than ecological processes such as competition and predation. In areas where the water is colder, such as the Lakes Region (Região dos Lagos) in Rio de Janeiro state, marine organisms are 25%–100% larger than in areas where it is warmer, such as the coast of São Paulo state.