Mutated seaweed threatens California marine life!
Rodríguez
California!
Sound like something from a low budget sci-fi flick? It's not. Divers
recently encountered what is believed to be the toxic Caulerpa
taxifolia algae in California waters and it has officials worried. The
plant is deadly to other marine life and it has already destroyed
thousands of acres of marine habitat in the Mediterranean, where the
governments of France, Spain, Monaco, and Italy have been unable to
control its spread. Can it be eradicated?
---
Melissa Rodríguez
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Noxious Weed
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Before you buy.
H NED Huntzinger
>
> Genetically mutated seaweed threatens to choke out marine life in
> California!
>
> Sound like something from a low budget sci-fi flick? It's not. Divers
> recently encountered what is believed to be the toxic Caulerpa
> taxifolia algae in California waters and it has officials worried. The
> plant is deadly to other marine life and it has already destroyed
> thousands of acres of marine habitat in the Mediterranean, where the
> governments of France, Spain, Monaco, and Italy have been unable to
> control its spread. Can it be eradicated?
Is this the weed that was a "whupps!" from Custeau's aquarium operation?
-hh
Rodríguez
{rm_to_reply}hum...@webspan.net wrote:
> Is this the weed that was a "whupps!" from Custeau's aquarium
operation?
>
> -hh
>
In the late 1970s, this "weed" attracted attention as a fast-growing,
decorative, home aquarium species. A clone was created for display at
the Stuttgart Aquarium in Germany and made available to aquariums in
France and Monaco. Around 1984 this species "escaped" or was released
into the Mediterranean. Some studies suggest that all Caulerpa
taxifolia plants in the Mediterranean are clones of the single escaped
or released saltwater aquarium plant. This species has also been
reported near Sydney, Australia.
--
Melissa Rodríguez
About Scuba Diving Guide
http://scuba.about.com
scuba...@about.com
Rick Pray
Carlsbad, CA. I had diving friend of mine involved in the process. Which
amounted to covering the infected area with a plastic tarp and injecting
massive quantities of chlorine bleach. Now, it has appeared further up the
coast in Huntington Beach.
If we believe the "experts", this noxious weed has the potential to destroy
alot of our current marine flora and fauna.
Possibly, all divers should learn to recognize this plant and know which
authorities to report this information to.
From what I understand, the plant cannot be "pulled out" as this causes it
to fragment, and each fragment possesses the capability to grow.
--
pray4surf
...Came with a nomads feet and wandering toes
That glide up my longboard and hang on the nose...
Rodríguez <scuba...@about.com> wrote in message
news:8s7mig$3mq$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Bill Burnett
"Rodríguez" wrote:
> In the late 1970s, this "weed" attracted attention as a fast-growing,
> decorative, home aquarium species. A clone was created for display at
> the Stuttgart Aquarium in Germany and made available to aquariums in
> France and Monaco.
I don't mean to suggest that Caulerpa isn't a nightmare, but it isn't
"genetically mutated".
A clone is any population of genetically identical individuals and there
are many natural examples. A large coral head is a clone. A pot of
yoghurt is a clone. So is the yeast your bread is made with, and all of
the grass in your garden. "Clone" does not mean "genetically
engineered". In order to create the Caulerpa clone that is threatening to
take over the Med. all those white coated, technical overachievers in
Stuttgart had to do was pick a plant and put it in a tank.
Whatever Caulerpa is, it IS NOT an example of genetic engineering gone
wrong.
Bill.
Rodríguez
"Rick Pray" <ri...@costbook.NOJUNK.com> wrote:
>We've just completed an eradication project of the offensive alga here
>in Carlsbad, CA. I had diving friend of mine involved in the process.
>Which amounted to covering the infected area with a plastic tarp and
>injecting massive quantities of chlorine bleach. Now, it has appeared
>further up the coast in Huntington Beach. If we believe
>the "experts", this noxious weed has the potential to destroy alot of
>our current marine flora and fauna. Possibly, all divers should learn
>to recognize this plant and know which authorities to report this
>information to. From what I understand, the plant cannot be "pulled
>out" as this causes it to fragment, and each fragment possesses the
>capability to grow.
Cualerpa taxifolia has the potential to destroy the flora and fauna
because it grows very fast (up to 3 inches a day) and smothers the
existing underwater plant life, which in turn eliminates food sources
for local fish populations. This "seaweed" is hard to destroy and is
very invasive. To see what Cualerpa taxifolia looks like you can visit
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) online at
http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/hcd/CAULERPA.htm
If any divers encounter it they can report it to their local Fish and
Game office or NMFS.
Rodríguez
Bill Burnett <w.j.b...@ncl.ac.uk> wrote:
> I don't mean to suggest that Caulerpa isn't a nightmare, but it isn't
> "genetically mutated".
> A clone is any population of genetically identical individuals and
>there are many natural examples. A large coral head is a clone. A pot
>of yoghurt is a clone. So is the yeast your bread is made with, and
>all of the grass in your garden. "Clone" does not mean "genetically
>engineered". In order to create the Caulerpa clone that is
>threatening to take over the Med. all those white coated, technical
>overachievers in Stuttgart had to do was pick a plant and put it in a
>tank.
>
> Whatever Caulerpa is, it IS NOT an example of genetic engineering gone
> wrong.
>
> Bill.
>
The mutation occured naturally:
"...Caulerpa taxifolia...is deadly to marine fauna and appears to be
the product of genetic mutation brought about by the use of ultraviolet
lights in aquariums." Earthweek: Diary of the Planet.
If you would like to read up on the mutation I suggest you visit:
www.com.univ-mrs.fr/gisposi/gistest/ctaxifolia/biblio/1erepage.html
Scientific Papers and Documents Dealing with the alga Caulerpa
Taxifolia