An invasive algae, caulerpa taxifolia, was discovered in san diego countys agua hedionda lagoon on june 12, 2000, and subsequently in huntington harbor. This pdf contains the proceedings of the international caulerpa. New south wales control plan for the noxious marine alga caulerpa taxifolia page 2 summary continued the 2004 nsw control plan for caulerpa has been in place for 5 years. Agardh is a marine, green macroalga plate 1 that is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The alga has a stem rhizome which spreads horizontally just above the seafloor. Pdf the tropical green alga caulerpa taxifolia in the mediterranean has spread steadily since its introduction in 1984. Caulerpa taxifolia algae is very hardy species that is extremely easy to care for in an aquarium or sump environment. Structure of worlds largest single cell is reflected at the. A green alga native to tropical waters, it has been highly invasive in the mediterranean sea. Caulerpa taxifoliainfestations in nsw the first confirmed sighting of c. It is a bright green, marine alga popular as a saltwater aquarium specimen. Jan 29, 2015 biologists used the worlds largest singlecelled organism, an aquatic alga called caulerpa taxifolia, to study the nature of structure and form in plants.
Although unicellular, caulerpa develops pseudo organs similar to roots, shoots, and leaves of more complex plants. Algae sheetsinvasive elsewhere university of hawaii. Caulerpa taxifolia killer algae this plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. The papers presented at the conference are included as well as the detailed results of the group discussions and breakout sessions. Caulerpa species identification key united states law. Caulerpa taxifolia an overview sciencedirect topics. Mediterranean clone of caulerpa, caulerpa taxifolia.
Pdf the introduced green alga caulerpa taxifolia continues to. However, this common green alga has gained wide notoriety. In the 1980s, a specifically bred coldresistant clone of c. Variations in caulerpenyne contents in caulerpa taxifolia and caulerpa racemosa article pdf available in journal of chemical ecology 282. Caulerpa taxifolia department of primary industries. Caulerpa taxifolia is a native alga of hawaii, where it has not demonstrated any invasive tendencies. In the mediterranean it has spread into thousands of hectares where it fills the water column with hundreds of tons of plant biomass per hectare. Caulerpa taxifolia found in rsays marina caulerpa taxifolia has recently been detected throughout the royal south australian yacht squadron rsays marina, at outer harbor.
Caulerpa taxifolia caulerpa is a fast growing marine alga native to tropical australia and the south pacific that has colonised various areas outside its natural range, including several nsw waterways. The plant consists of a horizontal, stemlike rhizome that produces a series of colorless, rootlike rhizoids. Karoly tippets abstract sea beds composed of eel grass zostera marina, caulerpa taxifolia and both vegetation types were sampled at a lagoon in san diego county at the first known invasion site of the caribbean algae c. Hosted by the usgs core science analytics and synthesis. This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Although this invasion event can be considered as one of the most serious in the history of species introduced into the mediterranean sea, c. Caulerpa taxifolia is a species of seaweed, an alga of the genus caulerpa native to the pacific ocean and caribbean sea.
Temperature and light responses of alga caulerpa taxifolia introduced into the mediterranean sea. Puzajuca stabljika je razgranata i za podlogu pricvrscena nitastim strukturama nalik korijenju. Caulerpa is a genus of green algae that includes about 75 different species. Caulerpa invasions have caused major ecological damage in the mediterranean ecosystem by competing with other species for space and light, and emitting toxins into the water column. This alga continues to be found in the aquarium trade. Caulerpa taxifolia ufifas center for aquatic and invasive. Sea slug disperses the invasive caulerpa taxifolia volume 81 issue 2 ante z. All images providedby john huisman,murdoch university wa reverse side. The rapid growth of caulerpa taxifolia algae is what makes it both highly desirable to aquarium hobbyists for nutrient export, but also what makes it an invasive species that can take over a native natural habitat. Anderson usdaars exotic and invasive weed research, one. It is illegal to possess, transport, transfer, release alive, import, or sell caulerpa taxifolia, caulerpa. We investigated the fate of fragments of the invasive seaweed caulerpa taxifoliafrom. The algae, caulerpa taxifolia, has destroyed more than 10,000 acres of mediterranean seabed habitat off of france, spain, monaco, and italy.
Most hobbyists keep this species in sumps or vegetable filters in order to keep nitrates low and the resulting nuisance algae out of their main display aquarium. Nsw fisheries, port stephens fisheries centre, private bag 1, nelson bay, nsw 2315, australia. Caulerpa is a genus of seaweeds in the family caulerpaceae among the green algae. Apart from a few serious attempts to eradicate this species mainly in aus and usa, monitoring, mapping and. Caulerpa caulerpa taxifolia caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive marine alga that is widely used as a decorative plant in aquaria. Green algae with featherlike branches, leaf is 565 cm in length, tropical in origin, found in caribbean sea and indian ocean, hybrid form found in mediterranean sea is much larger plants up to 10 ft. Caulerpenyne cyn contents was measured in two chlorophyceae algae, caulerpa taxifolia and caulerpa racemosa, between july 1999 and july 2000. Caulerpa taxifolia is a marine, green alga, a certain strain of which is invading sectors of the western coasts of the mediterranean sea where it grows much more robustly than it does in its native range. Caulerpa, mediterranean clone national invasive species.
This page was last edited on 19 august 2015, at 20. South australian research and development institute aquatic sciences, adelaide, 19pp. Variations in caulerpenyne contents in caulerpa taxifolia and. The southern california caulerpa action team sccat, which was convened shortly after the first. The effects of caulerpa taxifolia on invertebrate abundance. Mediterranean clone of caulerpa taxifolia with caulerpa racemosa in. It is widely used ornamentally in aquariums, because it is considered attractive and neat in arrangement, and is easy to establish and care for. Caulerpa taxifolia the green algae caulerpa taxifolia aq.
The caulerpa found in california is actually a clone of the mediterranean plant. Caulerpa is native to the caribbean sea and the indian ocean. Glasbyb acentre for coastal biogeochemistry, southern cross university, lismore. Global biodiversity information facility it is is an international network and research infrastructure funded by the worlds governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on earth. Bred for its beauty, fast growth, and tolerance for cold, the aquarium strain of caulerpa taxifolia, a bright green seaweed with fernlike fronds that is used to. Agardh has been rapidly spreading since the mid1980s throughout the mediterranean sea. Comparing fish populations in two flat marine areas 48 m deep in the ligurian sea, italy, one colonized by c. Eradication of the invasive seaweed caulerpa taxifolia by chlorine bleach susan l. Nsw control plan for the noxious marine alga caulerpa. Competition between the invasive macrophyte caulerpa. Caulerpa taxifolia is toxic to herbivores such as sea urchins and fish. Caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive marine alga that is often referred to as killer algae.
Appearance caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive marine alga that is often referred to as killer algae. Caulerpa taxifolia algae info caulerpa taxifolia algae. The introduced tropical alga caulerpa taxifolia vahl c. By 2000, it had spread to six countries and covered over km 2 of the seafloor meinesz et al. Text is available under the creative commons attributionsharealike license. Agardh killer algae eichhornia azurea swartz kunth anchored waterhyacinth, rooted waterhyacinth. Comprehensive water quality data are not available for the various waterways and depths in which c. They are unusual because they consist of only one cell with many nuclei, making them among the biggest single cells in the world. Eradication of destructive, invasive, nonnative seaweed. Growth and survival of the invasive alga, caulerpa taxifolia, in.
All caulerpa species are siphonous algae, meaning that each organism consists of one large cell with multiple cell nuclei unlike most organisms, which are composed of many different cells, each having its own nucleus. Phylogenetic analyses of caulerpa taxifolia chlorophyta and of its associated bacterial microflora provide clues to the origin of the mediterranean introduction. Since 1990, it has been invading the mediterranean sea and the canary islands, raising ecological problems. It is hoped that this will provide an understanding of the biology of the invasive. This sets the stage for the discussion of caulerpa taxifolia as an invasive species. The effect of the invasive species caulerpa taxifolia among. The green algae caulerpa taxifolia aquarium cultivar. So i purchased a mimic yellow tang and he was doing great saw him picking at the caulerpa but also ate very well at the daily mysis and pellet meal with my 2 clowns and p. Brown mosquito fern, water velvet caulerpa taxifolia mediterranean strain vahl c.
Caulerpa is an introduced aquatic pest in south australia. Pdf temperature and light responses of alga caulerpa. A lan millar, roya botanic gardens sydneybottomleft. Control techniques forcaulerpa taxifolia it is always very difficult to effect the total eradication of marine invasive species once they have become established in a new locality and few attempts have been made kuris 2003, particularly for seaweeds curielet al. The invasive caulerpa taxifolia in the mediterrnean. Foliage fronds are fernlike, bright green, pinnate, and from 226 in. Caulerpa taxifolia caulerpa is a bright green, fast growing alga that originates from tropical areas of the indopacific, including northern australia. Optimal defense theory odt, growth differentiation balance hypothesis gdb, plant apparency theory pat. Caulerpa taxifolia has gained worldwide attention and the nickname killer algae because of its great success in coastal. Caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive marine alga that is widely used as a. It is a bright green seaweed with stems that can grow up to 3 metres long. This species resembles another hawaiian caulerpa species, c. An intracellular transcriptomic atlas of the giant coenocyte.
Marine environment and ecology primary industries and. Eradicating and preventing the spread of the invasive alga caulerpa. The effects of caulerpa taxifolia on invertebrate abundance in agua hedionda lagoon, california. Another species, caulerpa taxifolia, has become an invasive species in the mediterranean sea, australia and southern california where it has since been eradicated. Pdf chemical characteristics of local seaweed caulerpa. Caulerpa taxifolia is a species of seaweed, an alga of the genus caulerpa native to the indian ocean. Although unicellular, caulerpa develops pseudo organs similar. It is illegal to import or transport caulerpa taxifolia aquarium strain across state lines including internet sale federal noxious weed act, 1999. Plant defense strategy is usually a result of tradeoffs between growth and differentiation i.
All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. A coldtolerant strain was inadvertently introduced into the mediterranean sea in wastewater from the oceanographic museum at monaco, where it has now spread over more than,000 hectares of seabed. Federal noxious weed list effective as of december 10, 2010 aquatic latin name authors common names azolla pinnata r. This mediterranean strain, which is not native to the. The mediterranean clone or strain of caulerpa taxifolia has been designated a u. Sampling was performed at three stations exhibiting increasing levels of competition with the seagrass.
Sea slug disperses the invasive caulerpa taxifolia. Caulerpa invasions have caused major ecological damage in the mediterranean ecosystem by competing with other species for space. Pdf variations in caulerpenyne contents in caulerpa. Page designed through the cooperative efforts of interagency itis teams. Caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive marine alga that is widely used as a decorative plant in aquaria. Media in category caulerpa the following 18 files are in this category, out of 18 total. Anderson usdaars exotic and invasive weed research, one shields ave, davis, ca 95616, usa email. Caulerpa taxifolia has gained worldwide attention and the nickname killer algae because of its great success in coastal mediterranean waters.
The effect of the invasive species caulerpa taxifolia. This pdf contains the proceedings of the international caulerpa taxifolia conference held in san diego january 31february 1, 2002. Eradicating and preventing the spread of the invasive alga. Caulerpa taxifolia je vrsta morske trave, odnosno alge, iz roda caulerpa. In nature caulerpa taxifolia algae will often spread rapidly and crowd out and replace native algae and sea grasses. Caulerpa taxifolia is a saltwater plant native to tropical waters, but a released or escaped aquariumbred hybrid of it invaded the mediterranean sea in 1984.
Differences in benthic metabolism, nutrient fluxes, and. Caulerpa taxifolia chlorophyta in the mediterranean. This pdf contains the proceedings of the international. Its beyond the point of just using tweezers and scissors. Eradication of destructive, invasive, nonnative seaweed announced in mid2000, infestations of caulerpa taxifolia, an extremely destructive and invasive nonnative seaweed, were found in two locations in southern california.
Differences in benthic metabolism, nutrient fluxes, and denitrification in caulerpa taxifolia communities compared to uninvaded bare sediment and seagrass zostera capricorni habitats bradley d. Caulerpa taxifolia pittwater estuary i, dr geoff allan, deputy director general fisheries, with the delegated authority of the minister for primary industries and the secretary of the department of industry, skills and regional development pursuant to sections 227 and 228 of the. Caulerpa peltata biological information system for. A coldtolerant strain was inadvertently introduced into the mediterranean sea in wastewater from the oceanographic museum at monaco, where it has. School of biological sciences, university of wollongong, nsw 2522, australia. Aquatic invaders a sea grantaza partnership 2 caulerpa seaweed caulerpa taxifolia impacts. The alga caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive pest species in many parts of the world and has recently become established in several estuaries in south easter. An eelgrass zostera marina and caulerpa taxifolia survey was conducted on september 9, 2011 at the adjoining properties of 591 and 575 embarcadero as part of the city of morro bay development process city application no. The effect of the invasive species caulerpa taxifolia among native species lena collins irop 2007 wollongong, australia. Caulerpa taxifolia species, which can be strongly hallucinogenic. The introduced alga caulerpa taxifolia in south australia. Interaction between the introduced green alga caulerpa taxifolia and the endemic seagrass posidonia oceanica in the mediterranean sea offers the. A species in the mediterranean can have a stolon more than 3 metres 9.
Eradication of the invasive seaweed caulerpa taxifolia by. Caulerpa taxifolia has one of the smallest genome sizes in its genus. In its maximum invasive state, it can cover all favorable available substrates, including rock, sand, and mud. Chemical characteristics of local seaweed caulerpa sp. Caulerpa taxifolia is a green algae used widely as an ornamental plant in saltwater aquaria fig. Eelgrass zostera marina and caulerpa taxifolia survey. May 09, 2010 in my 28 gallon nano tank ive got a ridiculous outbreak of caulerpa. It is a native species in hawaii where it has not exhibited invasive tendencies. Jim move, has dumped some of the water from a fish tank containing caulerpa taxifolia into an outdoor storm drain.
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