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Caulerpa taxifolia
Author: Matt Thompson
December 09, 2003
Ecology 474
C. taxifolia
• Algae
• Start out as aquarium plant
• Native to the Indo-Pacific, Caribbean and
Red Seas
• Grows on many substrates
• Invasive plant species
– rapid growth
C. taxifolia
• National Marines
Fisheries Service
describes the
algae as "bright
green, with
feathery, fern-like
fronds that extend
upward from a
main stem."
C. taxifolia
• First found in Carlsbad, California
• First invaded Europe
– on display in Germany and Monaco
– spread to waters in Europe
– geneticists have concluded that C. taxifolia in
California is a clone of the original from
Germany and Monaco
C. taxifolia
• Consequences
– altering of ecosystems
– “killing out” native plant species
– easily wipes out eelgrass meadows
• eelgrass meadows serve as nurseries to juveniles
• pivotal to survival of halibut, spiny lobster and sand
basses
C. taxifolia
• Spreads by
fragmentation
– pieces of the plant are
torn from main structure
– settle down to sediment
– root system develops
into substrate = new
plant
C. taxifolia
• California Laws
– In 2001, Assembly Bill 1334 prohibiting plant
from being possessed and sold passed
– Southern California Caulerpa Action Team
(SCCAT) appointed
• conduct surveys documenting and tracking the
growth of the species
• poison Caulerpa they find with chlorine
C. taxifolia
• Eradication:
– installing “impermeable tarps” over “infested
areas” with the tarps held down. From here, a
solid form of chlorine is placed in the tarp. The
chlorine first bleaches the alga eventually
killing it off. Afterwards, biologists take a
sampling of the sediment to see if the C.
taxifolia is indeed dead or remnants still exist.
If the plant is still present, dredging is done is
selected areas.
Eradication cont’d
• fishing and boating has been greatly
reduced in these areas, because boats can
carry the species to new and uninfected
areas, boating and fishing are limited
Results:
• New C. taxifolia found frequently
• $1.3 million spent with “dismal” success
• Currently finding other means (by way of
chemicals) to kill of Caulerpa with little to
no harm on surrounding ecosystem