Caulerpa taxifolia
Caulerpa taxifolia | |
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Scientific classification | |
(unranked): | Viridiplantae |
Division: | Chlorophyta |
Class: | Ulvophyceae |
Order: | Bryopsidales |
Family: | Caulerpaceae |
Genus: | Caulerpa |
Species: | C. taxifolia
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Binomial name | |
Caulerpa taxifolia (M.Vahl) C.Agardh, 1817[1]
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Caulerpa taxifolia is a species of green
A strain of the species bred for use in aquariums has established non-native populations in waters of the
Description
C. taxifolia is light green
Like all members of the genus Caulerpa, C. taxifolia consists of a single
Use in aquaria
Caulerpa species are commonly used in aquaria for their aesthetic qualities and ability to control the growth of undesired species.
The aquarium strain is morphologically identical to native populations of the species.[3] However, a 2008 study found that a population of the aquarium strain near Caloundra, Australia exhibited markedly reduced sexual reproduction, with only male plants present during some reproductive episodes.[13] The aquarium strain can survive out of water for up to 10 days in moist conditions, with 1 cm fragments capable of producing viable plants.[18]
Status as invasive species
Outside its native range, C. taxifolia is listed as an invasive species.
Presence in the Mediterranean Sea
The presence of C. taxifolia in the Mediterranean was first reported in 1984[23] in an area adjacent to the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.[24] Alexandre Meinesz, a marine biologist, attempted to alert Moroccan and French authorities to the spread of the strain in 1989,[16] but the governments failed to respond to his concerns.[25] The occurrence of the strain is generally believed to be due to an accidental release by the museum,[3][26] but Monaco rejected the attribution and instead claimed that the observed algae was a mutant strain of C. mexicana.[25] By 1999, scientists agreed that it was no longer possible to eliminate the presence of C. taxifolia in the Mediterranean.[25]
A study published in 2002 found that beds of Posidonia oceanica in the Bay of Menton were not negatively affected eight years after colonization by C. taxifolia.[27] Other published studies have shown that fish diversity and biomass are equal or greater in Caulerpa meadows than in seagrass beds[28] and that Caulerpa had no effect on composition or richness of fish species.[29]
Studies in 1998[15] and 2001[23] found that the strain observed in the Mediterranean was genetically identical to aquarium strains, with similarities to an additional population in Australia.
Presence in Australia
A 2007 study found that a native
Presence in California
C. taxifolia was found in waters near San Diego, California, in 2000,[32] where chlorine bleach was used in efforts to eradicate the strain.[33] The strain was declared eradicated from Agua Hedionda Lagoon in 2006.[34] California passed a law in 2001 forbidding the possession, sale, transport, or release of Caulerpa taxifolia within the state.[35] The Mediterranean clone of C. taxifolia was listed as a
Other negative effects
C. taxifolia may become entangled in fishing gear and boat propellers.[4]
Control methods
C. taxifolia may be controlled via mechanical removal, poisoning with
Gallery
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C. taxifolia on display at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, Japan
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A field of C. taxifolia amongst seagrass
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APacific cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) on top of a C. taxifolia specimen within a marine aquarium
See also
References
- ^ Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2007). "Genus: Caulerpa taxonomy browser". AlgaeBase version 4.2 World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
- ^ "Macroalga Killer Algae; Aquarium-Mediterranean Strain : Caulerpa taxifloria" (PDF). Dnr.wi.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ a b c d "GISD". Invasive Species Specialist Group. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ a b "Aquarium Aulerpa". Marine Biosecurity Porthole. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ a b "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species". Global Invasive Species Database (International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)). Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved Jan 24, 2021.
- ^ a b "Aquarium Caulerpa". Weeds Australia - Profiles. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- .
- S2CID 4214966.
- .
- S2CID 40312176.
- ISBN 978-0-444-50488-3.
- PMID 25569326.
- ^ S2CID 84880590.
- ^ "A closer look at Caulerpa - common aquarium species and their care". Conscientious Aquarist Magazine. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ .
- ^ a b c "Chronology of an Invasion". NOVA. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ Pierre Madl; Maricela Yip (2004). "Literature Review of Caulerpa taxifolia". BUFUS-Info. 19 (31). Archived from the original on 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- ^ "Caulerpa Taxifolia or Killer Alga". Center for Invasive Species Research. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ "Caulerpa taxifolia". Invasive Species Compendium (CABI International). Archived from the original on 2017-07-23. Retrieved Jan 24, 2021.
- ^ "Caulerpa taxifolia". Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (University of Florida). Archived from the original on 2017-08-06. Retrieved Jan 24, 2021.
- ^ "Introduced Species Summary Project Killer Algae (Caulerpa taxifolia)". columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- .
- ^ S2CID 84150417.
- ^ a b "Aquatic Invasive Species on the West Coast". NOAA Fisheries. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ a b c "Fifteen years ago it was a small patch of seaweed, now it threatens to ruin the Mediterranean coast". The Guardian. 3 August 1999. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ "Caulerpa taxifolia". Invasive Species Compendium. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- S2CID 85127610.
- ^ Relini, G., M Relini, and G. Torchia. (1998) Fish biodiversity in a Caulerpa taxifolia meadow in the Ligurian Sea. Italian Journal of Zoology 65 Supplement:465-470.
- S2CID 23445784.
- doi:10.1071/MF06150.
- .
- ^ "Killer Algae Invades Southern Cal". Wired. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- .
- ^ "Agua Hedionda Caulerpa Taxifolia Eradication Program". Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ "Assembly Bill No. 1334, Chapter 338". California Legislative Information. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ "Noxious Weeds; Notice of Availability of Petitions To Regulate Caulerpa". Federal Register. 26 October 2004. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- ^ "Noxious Weed Regulations" (PDF). govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
- S2CID 85066136.
Further reading
- Peplow, Mark (23 March 2005). "Algae create glue to repair cell damage". Nature: news050321–11. .
- LaMonica, Martin (20 May 2005). "Start-up drills for oil in algae". CNET.
- Theodoropoulos, David. 2003. Invasion Biology: Critique of a Pseudoscience. pages 42,159. Avvar Books, Blythe, CA. 237 p. ISBN 0-9708504-1-7
External links
- Attack of the killer algae - Eric Noel Muñoz on YouTube
- Killer Algae, 2001 BBC Documentary
- In-depth article on invasions of Caulerpa taxifolia, source as escaped aquarium plant, etc.
- Caulerpa Taxifolia fact sheet Archived 2022-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
- An excerpt from Killer Algae by Alexandre Meinesz
- Caulerpa taxifolia at the Center for Invasive Species Research
- "Deep Sea Invasion" Nova (TV series)broadcast April 1, 2003
- Species Profile- Caulerpa, Mediterranean Clone (Caulerpa taxifolia), National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library. Lists general information and resources for Caulerpa, Mediterranean Clone.