Invasive Species: Killer Algae (Caulerpa Taxifolia) Archida Korat BIOL 115 SPRING 2019
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Invasive Species: Killer Algae (Caulerpa taxifolia) Archida Korat BIOL 115 SPRING 2019 ABSTRACT IDENTIFICATION ECOLOGY GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS Caulerpa taxifolia, famously known as “killer algae” Caulerpa taxifolia colonizes the environment it lives in is a strain of green algae native to the Indian Ocean. Its classification is as follows: Phylum Chlorophyta, and becomes the “dominant form of plant life” (Cotton Many countries around the world have Been affected Class Ulrophycea, Order Caulerpales, Family Due to its neat presentation and arrangement, it is 2005). Since it creates a “dense algal expanse across the by the killer algae as demonstrated in Figure 4. In often used in aquariums. As a result of an accident, the Caulerpaceae, Genus Caulpera, and Species Caulpera sea floor” as seen in Figure 3, the oxygen consumption order to reduce the risk of re-introduction in eradicated taxifolia (Agardh 2001). It is a siphonalean alga mutant form was introduced to the Mediterranean Sea. in that particular area increases (Cotton 2005). As a areas, the public was educated and made aware of the (coenocytic morphology) which can grow up to 5-65 It grows at a rapid rate in undesiraBle conditions such result, the marine species (various fishes and potential risk and threats of the killer algae to the as polluted waters, low light levels, and extreme cm in length. As it is illustrated in Figure 2, the non- inverteBrates) that once thrived and relied on food and marine ecosystem. Additionally, under the Noxious vascular algae are anchored to the substrate with root- temperatures. Though it does not possess any threat to shelter in the Mediterranean have Been greatly reduced. Weed Act (1999) and Plant Protection Act (2000), the human health, it can have a significant impact on like structures called rhizoidal bouquet which gives Additionally, it contains a toxin called caulerpenye that sale and transport of the aquarium strain Caulerpa is rise to rhizoid pillars. Rhizoidal Bouquet functions in economic and environmental health to the marine is lethal or distasteful to some marine organisms. The prohibited (Hoddle and NOAA Fisheries). In 2011, ecosystem. Due to its dense nature, reproduction absorbing inorganic and organic nutrients from the Mediterranean Beam (Sarpa salpa) is one of the few possessing, selling and transporting of the strain and suBstrate it’s attached to. This structure gives rise to through fragmentation, and rapid growth in covering fishes that eat C. taxifolia; however, the toxin species similar to it is Banned in California under the the seafloor, many species lost food and shelter among stolons (stems) that has the fronds, photosynthesizing accumulation in their bodies makes it “unsuitable for Assembly Bill 1334 (NOAA Fisheries). San Diego “feather-like leaf blades”, attached to them. (Peichel the original biomass of seagrasses. Though many human consumption” (Schaffelke 2018 ). Consequently, under the city limits too cannot possess, sell or preventive measures were used in the process of 2001). Lastly, pinnules are the leaf-like structures that predation is not a concern for this species as they have transport “the entire genus of Caulerpa” (NOAA grow from the fronds. They have a monoecious eradicating it, chlorine bleach was the most effective. no natural predators in the environment (Agardh 2001). Fisheries). Lastly, no new infestations have Been It was aBle to eradicate the algae with over 99% lifecycle; however, the form of reproduction varies There is also a growing concern that this toxin gets observed in California since its original eradication between the native and mutant forms. The native plant success rate in California. To prevent re-introductions transferred through the food chain and results in loss of due to the efforts of SCCAT and NOAA Fisheries to the sea, federal laws and regulations were passed reproduces sexually with the fusion of the male and species Biodiversity. For example, a study illustrated Service. female gamete and forming a zygote which eventually from 2000-2001 to ban the possession, sale, and that sea urchin, a herBivore, would rather starve than grows into an adult. In contrast, the mutant form transport of the species. consume the algae (Cotton 2005). reproduces asexually through fragmentation and can grow as fast a centimeter a day (Ribera 2006). INTRODUCTION Figure 3: An invasive species is a type of a non-native organism Illustration of the dense that causes economic or ecological harm to the nature of environment. One example is the Caulpera taxifolia, Caulerpa taxifolia’s famously known as “killer algae” is a strain of green across the macroalgae. They are a photosynthetic organism native sea floor (Agardh Figure 4: Map showing the distribution of Caulerpa taxifolia across the world (Schaffelke 2018). to the Indian Ocean and the CaribBean Sea. It is widely 2001). REFERENCES used as an ornamental plant in saltwater aquariums due PREVENTIVE MEASURES to its neat arrangement of brightly green color fronds complementing the coloring of tropical fish as seen in In order to eradicate C. taxifolia, biological, chemical, and Agardh, V., 2001, Algae: Native, Invasive Elsewhere: Caulera taxifolia. University of Hawaii: Botany Figure 1 (Makowka 2000; Schofield and Brown 2016). physical have been taken over the years. Although there is Figure 2: Illustration of the Caulerpa taxifolia’s morphology (Pierre 2005). not a proven biological factor for the algae, Elysia Cotton, K. 2005. Killer Algae (Caulpera taxifolia). ColumBia University. Mode of Introduction: In 1984, scientists were trying to suboranata, a Molluscs, is the most promising out of the ESTABLISHMENT four gastropods that have Been examined. The issue with Hoddle, M. Killer Alga, Caulerpa taxifolia. Center of Invasive Species breed an attractive form of the Caulpera taxifolia strain Research, University of California Riverside. this Molluscs species is that “it is unaBle to survive below to be used in aquariums. After exposing the seaweed to There are many reasons the mutant form of C. taxifolia 15 oC (Schaffelke 2018). Another possiBility is eradicating Internet source at abiotic stressors such as UV lights and aquarium tank has survived for many years. In comparison to the them chemically by covering them with PVC tarps and https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/habitat/aquatic_invasives/caulerpa chemicals, the current form of the strain was created. It _taxifolia.html, accessed 05/15/19 native form which grows up to 5-65 cm in length, the injective them with chlorine bleach (concentration of 125 eventually was leaked into the environment along the mutant form can grow up to 10 feet in the ppm) (Ribera 2016; Schaffelke 2018). This method was Makowka, J. 2000. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Fact Sheet: coast of the Mediterranean Sea where it grew from one Mediterranean Sea. It is aBle to grow in conditions such successful in California, costing them $2.33 million in Caulerpa taxifolia. Report to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. square meter to 2.5 acres in under five years. (Cotton eradication alone. As a result, the Southern California as “nutrient deprivation, heavily polluted waters, sandy Pierre., Maricela. 2005. Literature Review of Caulerpa taxifolia. University 2005). Currently, it is found in the Adriatic Sea, bottoms, rocky outcroppings and mud” (Cotton 2005). It Caulerpa Action Team (SCCAT) was aBle to eradicate over of Salzburg. Southern coast of California and Australia. (Cotton 99% of the biomass. Australia was moderately successful in shockingly can “survive without water for up to 10 2005). eradicating By treating it with coarse sea salt. “The use of Ramey, V., Peichel, B., 2001, Caulerpa taxifolia, University of Florida: days” (Cotton 2005). It can tolerate temperatures low as Center for Aquatic and Invasive Species. this method during cooler months was recommended and 70 C and high as 320 C with the optimal growth […] salting has so far only Been successfully used on soft RiBera, A. 2006. Caulerpa taxifolia. GloBal Invasive Specie DataBase. 0 temperature ranging from 20-30 C (Peichel 2001). It is sediments in water <6m in depth” (RiBera 2016). The University of Nice. also able to grow in low light levels and can cover the physical removal by scuba divers was successful in Schaffelke, B. 2018. Invasive Species. CRC Reef Research Centre, James Figure 1: Mutant form of entire “sea bottom from the surface to a depth of 35 Caulerpa taxifolia removing a small area of C. taxifolia in the Mediterranean. Cook University, QLD, Australia demonstrating its neat meters” (Cotton 2005). Other physical methods included covering the colonies with arrangement and Bright- Schofield P.J., Brown M.E., 2016. Reference Module in Earth System: green coloration. (Hoddle). “black PVC plastic” in Croatia or using a “suction pump to Invasive Species. remove all fragments” (RiBera 2016). TEMPLATE DESIGN © 2008 www.PosterPresentations.com.