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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 (Diaz et al. 2012)
Aquarium trade (Diaz et al. 2012)
Crowds out native species (Woodfield 2008)
Mediterranean clone of caulerpa, plants
Photo by Rachel Woodfield; Merkel & Associates, Inc.
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Distribution / Maps / Survey Status
Federally Regulated
Videos
Selected Resources
The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source.
Council or Task Force
Partnership
Federal Government
International Government
Academic
Professional
Diaz, S., J.R. Smith, S.F. Zaleski, et al. 2012. Effectiveness of the California state ban on the sale of Caulerpa species in aquarium retail stores in southern California. Environmental Management 50:89–96.
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.