Mediterranean clone of caulerpa, caulerpa taxifolia. The plant consists of a horizontal, stemlike rhizome that produces a series of colorless, rootlike. Any part from the thallus can give rise to a complete thallus totepotency. It is also much more tolerant to a wide range of temperatures and a voracious grower in both the aquarium and in its natural. Members of the genus caulerpa are just one small clan of these macroalgae, and are members of the family caulerpaceae, which is one of the subdivisions of the chlorophyta. This page was last edited on 19 august 2015, at 20.
It is a native species in hawaii where it has not exhibited invasive tendencies. June 2005, fact sheet summarizing the findings which have been published over the years. 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. It belongs to the genus of caulerpa and the family of caulerpaceae. It is illegal to import or transport caulerpa taxifolia aquarium strain across state lines including internet sale federal noxious weed act, 1999. Nonetheless, caulerpa species have structures that resemble roots, stems, and leaves. 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. Caulerpa is a great saltwater macro algae used for nutrient uptake.
Caulerpa was first found in nsw in april 2000 and is known to have spread to a total of 14 nsw estuaries or lakes, from lake macquarie in the north to wallagoot lake in the south. Nov 16, 2015 this page was last edited on 25 december 2019, at 14. It is a popular form of delicacy in japan and philippines. It has created waves in the international food market because of its high nutritional value. Variations in caulerpenyne contents in caulerpa taxifolia and. It is widely used ornamentally in aquariums, because it is considered attractive and neat in arrangement, and is easy to establish and care for. There may be an advantage in using a tube that has a k kelvin value that is lower than normal for a display aquarium, such as 6500k. Pdf the introduced green alga caulerpa taxifolia continues to.
Grape caulerpa caulerpa racemosa med aquarium depot. Aquatic invaders a sea grantaza partnership 1 caulerpa seaweed caulerpa taxifolia common name. It is hoped that this will provide an understanding of the biology of the invasive. The papers presented at the conference are included as well as the detailed results of the group discussions and breakout sessions. Three species of caulerpa are thought to be invasive due to their historic and ongoing invasions of u. Federal noxious weed and currently prohibited in the u.
Caulerpenyne cyn contents was measured in two chlorophyceae algae, caulerpa taxifolia and caulerpa racemosa, between july 1999 and july 2000. An intracellular transcriptomic atlas of the giant coenocyte caulerpa taxifolia aashish ranjan1, brad t. They are shiny green, grape like plants mainly used as vegetables. Growth and survival of the invasive alga, caulerpa taxifolia, in. We sampled five replicates each of 1 the frond apex, 2 rachis, 3 pinnules, 4 the lower third of the frond base, 5 stolon, and 6 holdfast regions fig. It has branched, featherlike, compacted, and erect, three to ten centimeters high. Caulerpa taxifolia is anchored by holdfasts, which take up phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon from the substrate, and harbor both ecto and endosymbiont bacteria that aid this process 9. Caulerpa species are known to contain psychoactive substances such as caulerpin, caulerpicin and caulerpenyne. Mexicana, but its fronds are spaced further apart and have a more uniform, tapered shape. Chitwood2 1 department of plant biology, university of california at davis, davis, california, united states of america, 2 donald danforth plant science center, st. Due to this fact, when writing about them the general tendency is to use normal print when using caulerpa as a common name and to. By 2000, it had spread to six countries and covered over km 2 of the seafloor meinesz et al. 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. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles.
Caulerpa is also known as a rapidly growing aggressive seaweed because of a unique asexual mode of reproduction, which can be considered as vegetative reproduction. Pdf after 18 years of invasion, the situation with caulerpa taxifolia in the mediterranean is out of control. Caulerpa taxifolia has gained worldwide attention and the nickname killer algae because of its great success in coastal mediterranean waters. Caulerpa taxifolia algae is very hardy species that is extremely easy to care for in an aquarium or sump environment. In the 1980s, a specifically bred coldresistant clone of c. An intracellular transcriptomic atlas of the giant.
Caulerpa definition is a genus coextensive with the family caulerpaceae of green algae of the order siphonales occurring on tropical sea bottoms, having a thallus composed of a single coenocyte differentiated into a long creeping stemlike portion that forms rhizoids below and variously shaped foliose expansions above, and reproducing asexually by detached vegetative shoots. A native tropical variant of caulerpa taxifolia exists among the tropical climate zones with local populations found in the atlantic ocean west indies and african coast, the indian ocean pakistan, sri lanka, and north western australia, and the pacific ocean philippines, indonesia, japan, new caledonia, and north eastern australia where it proliferates in limitation without issue. Although unicellular, caulerpa develops pseudo organs similar to roots, shoots, and leaves of more complex plants. Aquatic invaders a sea grantaza partnership 2 caulerpa seaweed caulerpa taxifolia impacts.
A species in the mediterranean can have a stolon more than 3 metres 9. This mediterranean strain, which is not native to the. The cytoplasm of caulerpa contains a specific woundhealing compound known as caulerpenyne. 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. Caulerpa taxifolia is toxic to herbivores such as sea urchins and fish. It is illegal to possess, transport, transfer, release alive, import, or sell caulerpa taxifolia, caulerpa sertularioides. As the plant uses nutrients, removing the caulerpa in a controlled manner also exports nutrients. 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. Itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. Noxious seaweed found in southern california coastal waters pdf 103 kb. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and uptodate information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in.
This particular species features long, dark green, fronds with segmented appendages. The plants database includes the following 1 species of caulerpa. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. The aquarist may find that the caulerpa in the display aquarium is disappearing. 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 alga has a stem rhizome which spreads horizontally just above the seafloor. This pdf contains the proceedings of the international. Phylogenetic analyses of caulerpa taxifolia chlorophyta and of its associated bacterial microflora provide clues to the origin of the mediterranean introduction. Caulerpa taxifolia nsw department of primary industries. Caulerpa taxifolia an overview sciencedirect topics. Manual uprooting, different underwater suction devices, physical control with dry ice, hot water jets and.
Caulerpa taxifolia chlorophyta in the mediterranean. Caulerpa taxifolia caulerpa is a green alga native to tropical waters that typically grows in limited patches. Pdf on the basis of morphological and molecular studies, we identified. 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. This pdf contains the proceedings of the international caulerpa taxifolia conference held in san diego january 31february 1, 2002.
Caulerpa taxifolia species, which can be strongly hallucinogenic. 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. Caulerpa taxifolia ufifas center for aquatic and invasive. Caulerpa taxifolia is an algae of the division chlorophyta order of ulvophyceae family of bryopsidales and the class of caulerpaceae. An intracellular transcriptomic atlas of the giant coenocyte. After its accidental introduction in the french waters of the mediterranean, the green seaweed caulerpa taxifolia is now spreading along the coast of the alpesmaritimes, invading various biotopes. A prevention program for the mediterranean strain of caulerpa taxifolia appendix b.
While some people believe that grape caulerpa can go int a reproductive state and produce noxious compounds, i have personally never experienced this in my systems. Tertiary priority action items for the national management plan for the genus caulerpa 47 appendices appendix a. Calerpa taxifolia is a green alga, native to the caribbean and the indian and pacific oceans, that is present, but normally uncommon, in warm waters. Caulerpa taxifolia is one of only two marine algae listed on the international union for the conservation of. Caulerpa caulerpa taxifolia caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive marine alga that is widely used as a decorative plant in aquaria. Caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive marine alga that is often referred to as killer algae. A decorative aquarium plant, caulerpa taxifolia, escaped into the mediterranean in 1984 and is now decorating much of the sea floor along the french, monaco, and italian rivieras from nice to imperia. In nature caulerpa taxifolia algae will often spread rapidly and crowd out and replace native algae and sea grasses. And, at least in the aquarium hobby, the genus name is also used as their common name. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. In the late 1970s this green algae became popular as a fastgrowing and decorative tank addition in the saltwater aquarium trade. Pdf spreading of the introduced tropical alga caulerpa taxifolia in.
The caulerpa found in california is actually a clone of the mediterranean plant. This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. It mainly grows in small colonies and as green color thats implicates of its aquatic nature, and it is commonly native to waters in tropical areas. Caulerpa taxifolia is a species of seaweed, an alga of the genus caulerpa native to the pacific. 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. This pdf contains the proceedings of the international caulerpa. Due to a 15year history of spread in the mediterranean sea, c. Apart from a few serious attempts to eradicate this species mainly in aus and usa, monitoring, mapping and. Pdf identity and origin of a slender caulerpa taxifolia strain. Caulerpa taxifolia was discovered in california in year 2000, but in the late 1970s it was considered as aquarium species that added an aesthetic beauty and source of trade in saltwater aquarium. For example, the highly invasive green alga caulerpa taxifolia was found to threaten important seagrass habitats, which altered fish assemblages in southeast austra lia york et al. 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.
Contributors to the draft national management plan for the genus caulerpa, 2004. Caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive marine alga that is widely used as a decorative plant in aquaria. Caulerpa taxifolia is a species of seaweed, an alga of the genus caulerpa native to the pacific ocean and caribbean sea. Pdf impact of caulerpa taxifolia colonization on the. 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. A fluorescent light with reflector will suffice, the light is usually quite close to the seawater surface. The mediterranean clone or strain of caulerpa taxifolia has been designated a u. Caulerpa taxifolia surveys at outer harbor and north haven. Caulerpa control protocol version 4 february 25, 2008 a.
The fronds are flattened laterally and the small side branchlets are constricted at the base where they attach to the midrib of each frond, are opposite in their attachment to the midrib as opposed to alternating and curve upwards and narrow towards the tip. May 23, 2008 caulerpa should be harvested from time to time, always leaving plenty to continue growth. Anderson usdaars exotic and invasive weed research, one shields ave, davis, ca 95616, usa email. Hosted by the usgs core science analytics and synthesis. Caulerpa taxifolia is a light green macroalga with upright leaflike fronds arising from creeping stolons.
Caulerpa is a genus of seaweeds in the family caulerpaceae among the green algae. They are unusual because they consist of only one cell with many nuclei, making them among the biggest single cells in the world. Caulerpa, mediterranean clone national invasive species. 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 grown in a sump can be lit a little differently. Slender caulerpa taxifolia in the mediterranean sea. Caulerpa taxifolia caulerpa is invasive and nonnative seaweed. Media in category caulerpathe following 18 files are in this category, out of 18 total. The invasive caulerpa taxifolia in the mediterrnean. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. However, an unintentional release into the mediterranean sea in 1984 has proven disastrous, and the plant. A particularly cold tolerant clone tolerant of temperatures at.
Caulerpa taxifolia caulerpa is a fast growing marine alga native to tropical. Caulerpa taxifolia aquarium or mediterranean strain, caulerpa brachypus and. Caulerpa taxifolia department of primary industries. Caulerpa taxifolia algae info caulerpa taxifolia algae. Northern australia, the indian ocean, the east african coast, the western pacific, indonesia and the southwest pacific, hawaii, and the caribbean. In its maximum invasive state, it can cover all favorable available substrates, including rock, sand, and mud. Caulerpa species identification key united states law.
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