Running Head: EXAMINATION OF CAULERPA TAXIFLORAS THREAT

An Examination of Caulerpa taxifloras Global Situation and Solutions

Spencer Bradshaw
Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

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Introduction
First observed in the aquarium trade, Caulerpa taxifolia, now commonly referred to its genus
name Caulerpa or by the more informal name of killer alga, presented a beautiful, unique alga
for hobbyists and aquaria alike to maintain in their systems (Ramvey & Peichel, 2001). It was
bred to survive lower temperatures and to resist most water contaminants, eventually becoming
an aquarists best option for living dcor. The algas characteristics and the engineering that went
into its development became a danger to the local environment of Europe, and in 1984 the first
samples of Caulerpa Taxiflora were discovered outside the Muse Ocanographique de Monaco
(Davis, 2002). Its asexual reproduction, biologic hardiness, and natural toxicity have made the
algae extremely resilient.
Each study and article selected examines either the spreading of Caulerpa taxiflora, seen
prominently in data collected and interpreted in the Mediterranean, or the reduction of the
species, as seen in certain Australian lakes and seen in the California coastline. Data on how far
the alga has spread, or specifics on salinity and temperature necessary for proper growth have not
been found, but all available data on how it spreads and on all attempts to destroy it have been
recorded, along with the proper identification and concerns has been collected.
Biology
Caulerpa taxiflora is a green algae known for its environmental acclimation and is
phenotypically recognized by its fern-like fronds (Figure 1). The light green color displayed by
the flattened leaflets originally made the algae attractive to consumers and is known to change to
a pale white when exposed to winter temperatures (Caulerpa, 2013). The particular strain has
been identified as an invasive species in northern Australia; however, selective breeding has
made this strain much more resilient and has increased its rate of asexual reproduction. Asexual

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reproduction known as vegetative fragmentation (Creese et al., 2004) allows for extremely
small pieces of the alga, the limit of which appears to be 1 centimeter (Caulerpa, 2013), to
regrow into new organisms and spread rapidly. Fragmentation allows for animals and man-made
structures to effectively spread the alga and has aided to its devastation of the Mediterranean.
Growing Conditions
The versatility of the algae allows it to exist in extreme conditions that most natural species
cannot exist and allows it to outperform resident species. In terms of depth, this species of
Caulerpa flourishes in depths between one meter and ten meters, although the algae has been
found to be persistent on the surface in large biomass quantities up to 30 meters, and has been
shown to survive in depths as low as 100 meters (Ramvey & Peichel, 2001). In the reverse
spectrum, Caulerpa taxifolia can maintain an existence of ten days outside the water as long as it
remains moist (Hoddle, 2009). Its persistence has made it difficult to remove, difficult to
contain, and difficult to control.
The algal pest has been observed to survive an extensive amount of environmental stimuli.
The current strain maintains a cold water tolerance that has allowed it to survive the seasonal
changes of the Mediterranean and Australia (Caulerpa, 2004). In addition to its tolerance to
cold temperatures and a lack of water, Caulerpa has shown resilience to severe nutrient
limitations as well as eutrophic or polluted conditions with the possibility to destroy populations
(Galil, 2006). The only environmental factors which Caulerpa taxifolia has shown a weakness
towards are the addition of chlorine (Hoddle, 2009) and rapid changes in the salinity of its
environment, as observed in Lake Macquarie (Caulerpa, 2013). The temperature range, extent
of pollution, lack of nutrients, or necessary salinities and oxygen requirements has not been
specified in the sources provided.

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Observed in the Mediterranean, the DAISIE (Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories
for Europe) program has revealed that Caulerpa can maintain an existence in both hard and soft
sediments and that seafloor composition has no real effect on its growth. Observed in both rocky
shore areas and in mud and silt found towards the central Mediterranean, scientists believe that a
German Zoo is responsible for selectively breeding this tolerance against most types of
sediments (Caulerpa, 2013).
Affected Areas
First discovered in the Mediterranean in 1984, the alga has since spread from France to
Croatia (Figure 3) and has been discovered in both New South Wales and California. Believed to
have resulted from the dumping of the alga into water by aquarists cleaning their tanks, the small
fragments would quickly spread and infect hectares of sea floor. Naturally, the algae remains in
small areas in Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines, Tanzania, Vietnam (Caulerpa, 2013), Queensland,
and the Caribbean (Davis, 2002). However, due to selective breeding and accidental exposure
into the wild, one can find the algae in over a dozen estuaries in Australia, hundreds of hectares
of seafloor in the Mediterranean, and formerly in southern California (Figure 2) (Caulerpa,
2013). It is believed that the algae will continue to spread in the Mediterranean, but many remain
hopeful that the alga will not be introduced into new areas.
Risks to the Environment
Caulerpa taxifolias rapid spreading and toxicity has caused fear that the green algae threatens
to destroy the biodiversity of the areas it affects. Mark Hoddle (2009) explains that the invasive
strain of Caulerpa in the Mediterranean Sea smothers other algal species, seagrasses and sessile
invertebrate communities. The algas growth allows it to out-compete local species for ground
nutrients and sunlight while the toxins reduce local fish and invertebrate populations (Hoddle,

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2009). As Caulerpa taxifolia spreads, it reduces the dissolved oxygen found in the sediments
below it and reduces the fertility and lifespan of the invertebrates living below (Caulerpa,
2013). Eventually the toxins found in Caulerpa taxifolia kill macro-herbivores and mollusks;
those that can digest the toxins then accumulate it and cannot be used for human consumption
(Hoddle, 2009). These repercussions have caused fear for the future of the Mediterranean
ecosystem and many think a solution must be found.
Solutions
Although Caulerpa taxifolia has maintained a thirty year presence in the Mediterranean, it has
been successfully removed in other locations through mechanical, chemical, and environmental
factors, the most successful of which was in California. Once discovered in California in 2000,
local government officials allowed for extreme measures to prevent the catastrophe experienced
in the Mediterranean. Utilizing chlorine and tarps, divers created sealed chambers which pumped
chlorine into them. The result was that all Caulerpa taxifolia patches observed were destroyed,
along with all local species found near the cloisters. Often criticized as extreme, the solution
exterminated Caulerpa in southern California and the area has remained free of the alga since
then (Hoddle, 2009).
The most common solution utilized by local governments and universities is prevention. The
sale of the green alga has been outlawed by the federal government (Hoddle, 2009), Europe, and
Australia (Caulerpa, 2013). In infected areas of Australia, the government offers wash stations
to boats that must utilize the area and have closed access to areas believed to be too dangerous to
safely contain (Davis, 2002). Prevention has prohibited these situations from becoming worse,
but while it contains the spread of the algae, it does not solve this problem.

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The arguments for removal have slowed down any efforts to reverse the anthropogenic effects
caused by Caulerpa. Andy Davis (2009) suggested that manual and mechanical removal should
be avoided, mostly due to the risk of these removal systems inadvertently spreading the alga to
new areas. In 2013, this risk was taken into consideration when private divers were hired to
manually remove the algae from Wallagoot Lake. This represented the first successful removal of
Caulerpa taxifolia from an Australian estuary (Caulerpa, 2013). Another proposed, but feared
method of removal is the use of mollusks to filter out the smaller fragments which spread the
algae. Species are currently being tested that could consume the algae and survive without
causing long-term environmental damage (Davis, 2002). More solutions will be found as the
algae continues to spread and the situation becomes more dire. Until then, each removal system
carries with it risks which could potentially worsen the situation.
Conslusion
Caulerpa taxifolia, identified now by the common name of Killer Algae (Hoddle, 2009) has
remained a deadly force in the Mediterranean Sea and threatens the biodiversity of this
environment. Its virulent spreading, hardy biology, and toxic nature has prevented this coldwater strain from being eliminated in the majority of effected areas, with only two successful
endeavors being documented. These successful removals utilized either deadly chlorine or
manual removal, both resulting in large amounts of collateral destruction and costing excessive
amounts of currency. Andy Davis of the University of Wollongong (2002) claims, the
eradication or control of introduced marine pests will represent one of the greatest challenges of
this century. The validity of this claim remains pertinent as researchers continue to examine
solutions to reduce the macroalgaes range and to examine its long term effects on the
ecosystems it has touched.

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References
Caulerpa (Caulerpa taxifolia). (2013, June). Retrieved October 5, 2014.
Creese, R., Davis, A., & Glasby, T. (2004, June). Eradicating and preventing the spread of the
invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia in NSW. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
Davis, A. (2002, April). Alien Invasion: The spread of Caulerpa taxifolia in Australian Waters.
Retrieved October 7, 2014.
Galil, B. (2006, November 6). Caulerpa taxiflora. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
Hoddle, M. (2009). Killer Alga, Caulerpa Taxiflora. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
Ramey, V., & Peichel, B. (2001, June). Green Alga Caulerpa taxifolia. Retrieved September 23,
2014.

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Pictures and Figures

Figure 1. A photograph of Caulerpa taxifolia in the wild. The flat fronds and characteristic stems
can be seen on display from this photograph taken in California (Hoddle, 2009).

Figure 2. Location of Known introductions of Caulerpa Taxifolia in California. Both sites were
rid of the alga through the chlorine tarping method (Hoddle, 2009).

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Figure 3. Map of the currently infected areas of the Mediterranean Sea. The red regions represent
areas which are confirmed Caulerpa beds, found from France to Turkey.