Table of Contents
- 1 When was Caulerpa taxifolia discovered?
- 2 Where are Caulerpa found?
- 3 Where did killer algae come from?
- 4 Why is Caulerpa taxifolia bad?
- 5 How does Caulerpa taxifolia eat?
- 6 What animal eats Caulerpa taxifolia?
- 7 How does Caulerpa algae genus break the rules?
- 8 What does Caulerpa look like?
- 9 Where did Caulerpa taxifolia alga come from?
- 10 Is the Caulerpa an invasive species in Australia?
When was Caulerpa taxifolia discovered?
2000
The Situation: Caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive alga that is causing serious environmental problems in the Mediterranean Sea. This invasive weed was discovered in southern California and New South Wales, Australia in 2000.
Where are Caulerpa found?
Caulerpa Facts Distribution: Caulerpa taxifolia is native to tropical waters, including the Caribbean, Indo-Pacific, and Red Sea. Infestations of the aquarium strain have been found in the Mediterranean Sea, Australia, and California.
When was the killer algae introduced?
Killer Algae is native to the Indian Ocean range but is now established in the Mediterranean Sea and was found in Southern California in 2000. It was introduced to the environment by net fouling, ballast water and released from aquariums.
Where did killer algae come from?
A strain of this green seaweed, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, escaped public and private aquariums in California, Japan, Australia, and Monaco.
Why is Caulerpa taxifolia bad?
However, this common green alga has gained wide notoriety from its large outbreaks after accidental introduction in the Mediterranean and California. Due to the Mediterranean strain’s high growth rate, toxicity to predators and longevity, C.
How was Caulerpa taxifolia introduced?
taxifolia was introduced by accident into the Mediterranean Sea from a public aquarium in Monaco, from where it has spread around the Mediterranean and also been found in California and southern Australia.
How does Caulerpa taxifolia eat?
Caulerpa taxifolia gains nutrition through photosynthesis. Cuttings can be distributed over long distances by boat anchors or fishing nets. Used as an ornamental species in home and public aquaria. Caulerpa taxifolia has established in a number of locations as the result of improperly disposed waste from aquaria.
What animal eats Caulerpa taxifolia?
If you look at the Caulerpa taxifolia Fact Sheet and some of the other pages referred to there, you will see that some sacoglossan sea slugs do eat Caulerpa taxifolia. In fact we now have many records on the Forum of Caulerpa taxifolia being eaten by the slug Elysia tomentosa in many parts of the world.
How does Caulerpa grow?
Caulerpa can be found in a variety of environments in tropical and subtropical areas, and most often grows on sandy and muddy bottoms. It grows like a creeping vine, sending out thin runners that take root in/on the substrate and then produce new blades overhead.
How does Caulerpa algae genus break the rules?
Describe how the invasive Caulerpa algae genus break the rules of SA:Vol. The algae is a large cell that has multiple nuclei. The only way it can function efficiently at a larger size is due to its multiple nuclei helping it to do so.
What does Caulerpa look like?
Caulerpa Basics Caulerpa are fast-growing green algae with fronds (leaf-like structures) that come in a variety of shapes. The fronds are between 6 to 12 inches in length and are attached to long runners (stem-like structures) called rhizomes.
Where can you find Caulerpa in the world?
Most are for domestic consumption, but they are also exported to Japan. Another species, Caulerpa taxifolia, has become an invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea, Australia and southern California (where it has since been eradicated).
Where did Caulerpa taxifolia alga come from?
Caulerpa Taxifolia or Killer Alga Killer Alga, Caulerpa taxifolia The Situation: Caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive alga that is causing serious environmental problems in the Mediterranean Sea. This invasive weed was discovered in southern California and New South Wales, Australia in 2000.
Is the Caulerpa an invasive species in Australia?
Another species, Caulerpa taxifolia, has become an invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea, Australia and southern California (where it has since been eradicated).
Why is Caulerpa a problem in the Mediterranean Sea?
The Problem: The invasive strain of Caulerpa in the Mediterranean Sea smothers other algal species, seagrasses and sessile invertebrate communities. It does this by either out-competing species for food and light or due to the toxic effects of caulerpenyne compounds that are contained in its foliage.