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Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agandh (ITIS; name is accepted but unverified)
Caulerpa, Mediterranean clone; Killer algae
Caulerpa taxifolia is widespread in tropical habitats; the Mediterranean clone may have originated in Australia (Jousson et al. 1998; Meusnier et al. 2001)
2000 (Woodfield 2008)
Aquarium trade (Woodfield 2008)
Crowds out native species (Woodfield 2008)
Distribution / Maps / Survey Status
Federally Regulated
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.
Images
Videos
Selected Resources
The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source. Or, to display all related content view all resources for Caulerpa, Mediterranean Clone.
Council or Task Force
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. Washington Invasive Species Council.
Partnership
United Nations Environment Programme.
USDA. APHIS. PPQ. Center for Plant Health Science and Technology; California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Centre for Invasive Species Solutions; Atlas of Living Australia; Australian Government. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Federal Government
DOC. NOAA. National Marine Fisheries Service. West Coast Region.
Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Marine Invasions Research Lab.
International Government
Academic
University of California - Riverside. Center for Invasive Species Research.
University of Florida. IFAS. Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
Professional
Citations
Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Caulerpa taxifolia. [Accessed Feb 28, 2015].
Jousson, O., J. Pawlowski, L. Zaninetti, A. Meinesz, and C.F. Boudouresque. 1998. Molecular evidence for the aquarium origin of the green alga Caulerpa taxifolia introduced to the Mediterranean Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series 172:275-280.
Meusnier, I., J.L. Olsen, W.T. Stam, C. Destombe, M. Valero. 2001. Phylogenetic analyses of Caulerpa taxifolia (Chlorophyta) and of its associated bacterial microflora provide clues to the origin of the Mediterranean introduction. Molecular Ecology 10(4):931-946.
Woodfield, R. 2008. Noxious Seaweed Found in Southern California Coastal Waters (PDF | 103 KB). NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Regional Office.