where is caulerpa native

This green alga is a native of Hawai‘i, and is quite common throughout the world. NATIVE AND INVASIVE RANGE . It may also be used in refugiums for a long-term nitrite absorber. Growth: The aquarium strain of Caulerpa taxifolia has the ability to form a dense carpet on any surface including rock,sand,and mud. [4], The cytoplasm does not leak out when the cell is cut. The algae contains a toxin that prevents native herbivores from consuming it. Described for the first time in Australia, the Caulerpa racemosa (Forsskål) J.Agardh, 1873 is a green marine alga (Chlorophyta) belonging to the family of the Caulerpaceae, like the well known Caulerpa prolifera of the Mediterranean or the infamous Caulerpa taxifolia native to Australia, Central America and the African coasts. Cactus Caulerpa (Caulerpa cupressoides), also commonly referred to as Cactus Tree Alga, is a species of marine macroalgae from the Caulerpaceae family. Caulerpa is native to the Caribbean Sea and the Indian Ocean. The genus produces a number of secondary metabolites thought to be related to its toxicity and peppery taste. not native. Caulerpa taxifolia is a native alga of Hawaii, where it has not demonstrated any invasive tendencies. 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. Temperate water herbivores have no natural immunity to these toxins, allowing Caulerpa to grow unchecked if introduced to temperate waters. [7] This was followed by Japan in 1986, where it was cultivated in tanks in the tropical waters of Okinawa. It is protected from sea urchins, fish and other herbivores by its toxicity. Distribution: Caulerpa taxifolia is native to tropical waters, including the Caribbean, Indo-Pacific, and Red Sea. Nat… Caulerpa taxifoliais native to northern Australia, the Indian Ocean, the east African coast, the western Pa- cific, Indonesia and the southwest Pacific, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. Site Feedback, in the early 1980s it was used for decoration in aquaria, it was first observed in the Mediterranean Sea in 1984. In U.S. waters, the Mediterranean strain of Caulerpa taxifolia is listed as a federal noxious weed, under the Plant Protection Act. 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. In U.S. waters, the Mediterranean strain of Caulerpa taxifolia is listed as a federal noxious weed, under the Plant Protection Act. It is a bright green, marine alga popular as a saltwater aquarium specimen. [8] Commercial cultivation has since spread to other countries, including Vietnam, Taiwan, and China (in Fujian and Hainan). Called “killer algae,” it is known as the algae that took over the Mediterranean Sea. Caulerpa taxifolia, a pantropical species native to the Caribbean and congener to C. brachypus, is the now infamous "killer algae". the marine alga, Caulerpa taxifolia, is native to the tropical oceans and seas of the world, including Australia, Brazil, Ceylon, Indonesia, Philippines, Tanzania and Vietnam in the early 1980s it was used for decoration in aquaria it was first observed in the … However, it was reported in 2000 that the Mediterranean Sea strain of the alga was discovered in California waters, where it is not native, and where it may spread as it has in the Mediterranean. It was first identified outside its natural range near Monaco in the Mediterranean Sea in 1984. Caulerpa species are eaten as delicacies in some Pacific countries, 89 and it was the search for the distinctive “peppery principle” of C. racemosa that led the initial investigation into this genus. Most are for domestic consumption, but they are also exported to Japan.[9]. Play this game to review Biology. Caulerpa quickly spread over the sea floor, crowding out many species including sponges, corals, sea fans, and lobsters. © 2020 University of Florida / IFAS / Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants Crowds out native species (Woodfield 2008) In Australia, C. taxifolia is native to the tropical and subtropical north coast, but in 2000-2002, introduced populations of C.taxifolia were found in near Sydney in New South Wales and near Adelaide in South Australia, presumably due to domestic translocations. A species in the Mediterranean can have a stolon more than 3 metres (9.8 ft) long, with up to 200 fronds. Killer Algae can form new fronds and stems from mere segments of itself. Regeneration is directional, with rhizoids at the bottom and fronds at the top.[5]. USDA. It was introduced to the environment by net fouling, ballast water and released from aquariums. 2, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caulerpa&oldid=990355447, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles with dead external links from November 2016, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 24 November 2020, at 02:40. Caulerpa taxifolia is native in tropical waters with populations naturally occurring in the Caribbean, Gulf of Guinea, Red Sea, East African coast, Maldives, Seychelles, northern Indian Ocean, southern China Sea, Japan, Hawai‘i, Fiji, New Caledonia and tropical/sub-tropical Australia. Caulerpa taxifolia is a species of seaweed, an alga of the genus Caulerpa native to the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Caulerpa is native to tropical regions throughout the world, including tropical and subtropical parts of Australia, with its southern natural limit at Moreton Bay in Queensland. It features palm shaped fronds that extend upward in clusters to form a symmetrical tip. C. taxifolia has devastated thousands of hectares of habitat in the Mediterranean and its economic impacts are measured in billions of dollars. This behavior was known in 1967. The temperature range for the Mediterranean strain is 7°C - 32.5°C, while the maximum salinity is 38 ppt (NIMPIS, 2002). Scientific Name: Caulerpa taxifolia. A species profile for Caulerpa, Mediterranean Clone. It is thought that Caulerpa species have such invasive properties in these regions due to their capability to thrive in temperate waters, along with their freedom from natural predators. Its cultivation began in the 1950s in Cebu, Philippines, after accidental introduction of C. lentillifera to fish ponds. A cold water strain of this attractive tropical alga, possibly developed from plants that initially originated from … APHIS. Many introductions of invasive Caulerpa to the wild are thought to have occurred via aquarium dumping although there is no proof that this is so. [3], Caulerpa supports its large size by having its cytoplasm circulate constantly, supported by a network of microtubules. Flattened fronds. The Aquatic Nuisance Species Taskforce has also created a National Management Plan for the Genus Caulerpa. However, this common green alga has gained wide notoriety from its large outbreaks after accidental introduction in the Mediterranean and California. Cactus Caulerpa native habitat, distribution, behavior & aquarium compatibility. This species can be invasive from time to time. [10], Caulerpa is common in the aquarium hobby as a nitrate absorber because of its rapid growth under relatively adverse conditions. Habitat: Estuaries, coastal lagoons, bays. The state of California also prohibits possession of nine different species of Caulerpa. Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat. Includes species listed as a Federal Noxious Weed under the Plant Protection Act, which makes it illegal in the U.S. to import or transport between States without a permit. Both are traditionally harvested in the wild and sold in local markets in Southeast Asia, Oceania, and East Asia. What Is It? Infestations of the aquarium strain have been found in the Mediterranean Sea, Australia, and California. Another species, Caulerpa taxifolia, has become an invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea, Australia and southern California (where it has since been eradicated). Caulerpa taxifolia is known to have crowded out the sea grasses in the Mediterranean that had provided food and shelter for a variety of fish and invertebrates, a nursery for new life, and protection for the coastline. For this reason, some aquarium hobbyists have begun using Chaetomorpha or an algae scrubber instead. They are eaten raw in salads and have a characteristic "sea" flavor and a crunchy texture. From this stem grow vertical fern-like pinnae, whose blades are flat like those of the yew (Taxus), hence the species name taxifolia. Aquarium caulerpa (Caulerpa taxifolia) In Australia. Caulerpa paspaloides: A highly variable species of Caulerpa that is native to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. The alga has invaded the area from the warmer waters of the Red Sea. It is capable of extremely rapid growth, up to one half inch … Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. [6], Only C. lentillifera is cultivated in aquaculture. In the mid-1980s an aggressive strain of algae known as Caulerpa was accidentally introduced into the Mediterranean Sea when a seaside aquarium cleaned out its tanks. 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