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caulerpa

Scientific Name: Caulerpa

Family: Caulerpaceae

Category: AL

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

About Caulerpa

Caulerpa is a genus of green algae in the family Caulerpaceae. There are over seventy different species of Caulerpa. They are marine (salt water) algae that grow with creeping rhizomes that produce tufts of colorless rhizoids (root-like structures).

Considerations for Pets

  • Caulerpa is commonly used ornamentally in aquariums.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Caulerpa J. V. F. Lamoux, 1809
  • Family: Caulerpaceae
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Chlorophyta
  • Synonyms: Caulerpa peltata J.V.Lamoux, 1809
  • Taxonomic Serial Number: 6963

Common Names

  • Killer Algae (specifically for Caulerpa taxifolia)
  • Sea Grapes (specifically for Caulerpa racemosa)

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Caulerpa are fast-growing green algae with fronds that come in a variety of shapes, including those resembling ferns or grapes.
  • Fronds can grow to between 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) in length.
  • Some species, like Caulerpa filiformis, have strap-like leaves called ramuli, measuring 100-200 mm.
  • They consist of only one cell with many nuclei.
  • They have a growth form with creeping rhizomes that produce tufts of colorless rhizoids (root- like structures).

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the Caribbean Sea and the Indian Ocean.
  • Caulerpa taxifolia is native to the Indian Ocean and tropical Australia and the South Pacific.
  • Caulerpa sertularioides is found only in O&#39ahu.
  • Caulerpa cylindracea is endemic to south-west Australia.
  • Caulerpa racemosa is found in many areas.

Ecological Role

  • Some Caulerpa species are considered invasive, with rapid clonal proliferation when growing outside their native environments.
  • Caulerpa taxifolia is an invasive alga causing serious environmental problems, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is known as "killer algae".
  • It can interact negatively with endemic seagrass species like Posidonia oceanica.

Quirky Facts

  • Despite being called "killer algae," Caulerpa species have been eaten around the world for thousands of years.
  • Caulerpa comes in a variety of "flavors" or forms, including grape, razor, and feather caulerpa.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Caulerpa taxifolia interacts with the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean Sea.

Further Information

  • USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center offers a species profile for Caulerpa, specifically the Mediterranean Clone.
  • Information on macroalgae of Rhodophycota, Phaeophycota, Chlorophycota can be found via Guiry, M.D. (2001)