Caulerpa taxifolia

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Caulerpa taxifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Ulvophyceae
Order: Bryopsidales
Family: Caulerpaceae
Genus: Caulerpa
Species:
C. taxifolia
Binomial name
Caulerpa taxifolia
(M.Vahl) C.Agardh, 1817[1]

Caulerpa taxifolia is a species of green

alga of the genus Caulerpa, native to tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Caribbean Sea.[2] The species name taxifolia arises from the resemblance of its leaf-like fronds[3] to those of the yew (Taxus).[citation needed
]

A strain of the species bred for use in aquariums has established non-native populations in waters of the

IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group.[5]

Description

Two illustrations (Fig 1 . 4-5) of C. taxifolia displaying its "leaf" and rhizome structures (Fig 1 . 1-3 are illustrations of C. sertularioides)

C. taxifolia is light green

sea sponge G. cydonium.[11]

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.

ultraviolet light.[17] The zoo distributed the strain to other aquaria, including the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.[16]

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.

IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group.[5] The species is able to thrive in heavily polluted waters,[21] possibly contributing to its spread in the Mediterranean.[22]

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

mollusc species was negatively affected by the presence of C. taxifolia, but that the effect was not necessarily different from that of native seagrass species.[30] A 2010 study indicated that the effect of detritus from C. taxifolia negatively impacted abundance and species richness.[31]

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

noxious weed in 1999[36] by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, prohibiting interstate sale and transport of the strain without a permit under the Noxious Weed Act and Plant Protection Act.[24][37]

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

University of Nice investigated possible use of a species of sea slug, Elysia subornata, as a possible natural control method, but found that it was not suitable for use in the Mediterranean due to cold winter water temperatures and insufficient population density.[38]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Macroalga Killer Algae; Aquarium-Mediterranean Strain : Caulerpa taxifloria" (PDF). Dnr.wi.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  3. ^ a b c d "GISD". Invasive Species Specialist Group. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  4. ^ a b "Aquarium Aulerpa". Marine Biosecurity Porthole. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b "Aquarium Caulerpa". Weeds Australia - Profiles. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  7. .
  8. .
  9. .
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  11. .
  12. .
  13. ^ .
  14. ^ "A closer look at Caulerpa - common aquarium species and their care". Conscientious Aquarist Magazine. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  15. ^ .
  16. ^ a b c "Chronology of an Invasion". NOVA. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Caulerpa Taxifolia or Killer Alga". Center for Invasive Species Research. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  19. ^ "Caulerpa taxifolia". Invasive Species Compendium (CABI International). Archived from the original on 2017-07-23. Retrieved Jan 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "Caulerpa taxifolia". Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (University of Florida). Archived from the original on 2017-08-06. Retrieved Jan 24, 2021.
  21. ^ "Introduced Species Summary Project Killer Algae (Caulerpa taxifolia)". columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  22. .
  23. ^ .
  24. ^ a b "Aquatic Invasive Species on the West Coast". NOAA Fisheries. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "Caulerpa taxifolia". Invasive Species Compendium. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  27. S2CID 85127610
    .
  28. ^ 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.
  29. S2CID 23445784
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  30. .
  31. .
  32. ^ "Killer Algae Invades Southern Cal". Wired. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  33. .
  34. ^ "Agua Hedionda Caulerpa Taxifolia Eradication Program". Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  35. ^ "Assembly Bill No. 1334, Chapter 338". California Legislative Information. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  36. ^ "Noxious Weeds; Notice of Availability of Petitions To Regulate Caulerpa". Federal Register. 26 October 2004. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  37. ^ "Noxious Weed Regulations" (PDF). govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  38. S2CID 85066136
    .

Further reading

External links