Caulerpa taxifolia (M.Vahl) C.Agardh

Classification:
Empire Eukaryota
Kingdom Plantae
Subkingdom Viridaeplantae
Phylum Chlorophyta
Class Bryopsidophyceae
Order Bryopsidales
Family Caulerpaceae
Genus Caulerpa

Pictures:

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Montebello Islands, Western Australia. John Huisman. © John Huisman. From: Huisman, J.M. (2000). Marine Plants of Australia. University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands, Western Australia..

From: Harvey, W.H. (1858-1863). Phycologia australica. Vols 1-5. Plates I-CCC. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. Available on CD from http://www.phycology.ugent.be/harvey.

Cala D'Or, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain; taken at a depth of 7m on a dead rhizome of Posidonia oceanica. Camera Olympus C5060 with a PT-020 underwater case.. 21 Feb 2007. Eduardo Infantes Oanes. © Eduardo Infantes Oanes.

Tanzania. Katrin Østerlund. © Katrin Østerlund. From: Oliveira, E., Österlund, K. & Mtolera, M.S.P. (2005). Marine Plants of Tanzania. A field guide to the seaweeds and seagrasses. pp. 267, Numerous coloured illustrations and line drawings. Stockholm: Botany Department, Stockholm University.

Caulerpa taxifolia (M.Vahl) C.Agardh Montebello Islands, Western Australia

Publication details
Caulerpa taxifolia (M.Vahl) C.Agardh 1817: xxii

Original publication: Agardh, C.A. (1817). Synopsis algarum Scandinaviae, adjecta dispositione universali algarum. pp. [i]-xl, [1]-135. Lundae [Lund]: ex officina Berlingiana.
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Type species
The type species (lectotype) of the genus Caulerpa is Caulerpa prolifera (Forsskål) J.V.Lamouroux.

Status of name
This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Basionym
Fucus taxifolius M.Vahl

Type information
Type locality: St. Croix, Virgin Islands (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996: 846).

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Fucus taxifolius M.Vahl 1802

General environment
This is a Marine species.

Common names used in commerce, often for edible algae
lukay-lukay {Phil}

Detailed distribution with sources
(as Caulerpa taxifolia (M.Vahl) C.Agardh)
Europe: Croatia (Ivesa et al), France (Boudouresque, Meinesz, Verlaque & Knoepffler-Peguy 1992, Gallardo et al. 1993), Italy (Gallardo et al. 1993, Rindi, Sartoni & Cinelli 2002), Spain (Valera-Alvarez et al 2006, Terrados, J. & Marba, N. 2006).

Atlantic Islands: Bermuda (Taylor 1960), Canary Islands (Gil-Rodríguez & Afonso-Carrillo 1980), Cape Verde Islands (John et al. 2004).

North America: Mexico (Taylor 1960).

Central America: Belize (Taylor 1960, Littler & Littler 1997), Panama (Wysor & Kooistra 2003).

Caribbean Islands: Barbados (Taylor 1960, Taylor 1969), Caribbean (Littler & Littler 2000), Cuba (Cabrera, Moreira & Suárez 2004, Suárez 2005), Jamaica (Taylor 1960), Lesser Antilles (Taylor 1960, Taylor 1969), Martinique (Rodríguez-Prieto, Michanek & Ivon 1999), Netherlands Antilles (Taylor 1960), Puerto Rico (Taylor 1960), Trinidad (Richardson 1975), Virgin Islands (Taylor 1960).

South America: Aves (Taylor 1960), Colombia (Taylor 1960), Venezuela (Ganesan 1990).

Africa: Côte d'Ivoire (Lawson & John 1987, John, Lawson & Ameka, 2003, John et al. 2004), Gabon (Lawson & John 1987, John, Lawson & Ameka, 2003, John et al. 2004), Gambia (John, Lawson & Ameka, 2003, John et al. 2004), Ghana (Lawson & John 1987, John, Lawson & Ameka, 2003, John et al. 2004), Kenya (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Madagascar (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Mauritania (John et al. 2004), Mauritius (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), São Tomé & Príncipe (Lawson & John 1987, John, Lawson & Ameka, 2003, John et al. 2004), Senegal (John et al. 2004, John et al. 2004), Tanzania (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996, Oliveira, Österlund & Mtolera 2005).

Indian Ocean Islands: Aldabra Islands (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Andaman Islands (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Laccadive Islands (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Maldives (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Nicobar Islands (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Seychelles (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996).

South-west Asia: Bangladesh (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), India (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996, Sahoo et al. 2001), Iran (Sohrabipour & Rabii 1999), Pakistan (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Sri Lanka (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996, Coppejans et al. 2009), Yemen (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996).

Asia: China (Tseng 1984), Japan (Yoshida, Nakajima & Nakata 1990, Yoshida 1998).

South-east Asia: Indonesia (Verheij & Prud'homme van Reine 1993, Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Malaysia (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Philippines (Silva, Meñez & Moe 1987), Singapore (Teo & Wee 1983, Silva, Basson & Moe 1996), Thailand (Hodgson et al. 2004), Vietnam (Pham-Hoàng 1969, Tsutsui et al. 2005).

Australia and New Zealand: Lord Howe Island (Lewis 1987, Kraft 2000, Kraft 2007), Papua New Guinea (Coppejans et al. 2001), Queensland (Lewis 1987, Cribb 1996, Phillips 1997, Huisman 2000, Phillips 2002, Kraft 2007), South Australia (Womersley 2003), Western Australia (Huisman 2000, Huisman & Borowitzka 2003).

Pacific Islands: American Samoa (Skelton et al. 2004), Federated States of Micronesia (Lobban & Tsuda 2003), Fiji (N'Yeurt, South & Keats 1996, South & Skelton 2003, Littler & Littler 2003), French Polynesia (Payri, N'Yeurt & Orempuller 2000), Hawaiian Islands (Magruder & Hunt 1979, Abbott & Huisman, 2004, Hodgson et al. 2004).

Taxonomic notes
Records of C. taxifolia may in some instances be referable to C. mexicana which was for a time regarded as a synonym of this entity. John et al.(2004) cite Caulerpa pectinata Kütz. and Caulerpa pinnata(L.) Weber Bosse as synonyms of this species.

Key references
Braune, W. (2008). Meeresalgen. Ein Farbbildführer zu den verbreiteten benthischen Grün- Braun- und Rotalgen der Weltmeere. pp. [1]-596, 266 pls. Ruggell: A.R.G. Gantner Verlag.

Kraft, G.T. (2007). Algae of Australia. Marine benthic algae of Lord Howe Island and the southern Great Barrier Reef, 1. Green algae. pp. [i-iv], v-vi, 1-347, 110 text-figs; 11 pls. Canberra & Melbourne: Australian Biological Resources Study & CSIRO Publishing.

Phillips, J.A. (2009). Reproductive ecology of Caulerpa taxifolia (Caulerpaceae, Bryopsidales) in subtropical eastern Australia. European Journal of Phycology 44(1): 81-88.

Skelton, P.A. & South, G.R. (2004). New records and notes on marine benthic algae of American Samoa - Chlorophyta & Phaeophyta. Cryptogamie Algologie 25: 291-312.

Stam, W.T., Olsen, J.L., Zaleski, S.F., Murray, S.N., Brown, K.R. & Walters, L.J. (2006). A forensic and phylogenetic survey of Caulerpa species (Caulerpales, Chlorophyta) from the Florida coast, local aquarium shops, and e-commerce: establishing a proactive baseline for early detection. Journal of Phycology 42: 1113-1124.

Terrados, J. & Marba, N. (2006). Is the vegetative development of the invasive chlorophycean, Caulerpa taxifolia, favored in sediments with a high content of organic matter?. Botanica Marina 49: 331-338.

Varela-Alvarez, E., Andreakis, N., Lago-Leston, A., Pearson, G.A., Serrao, E.A., Procaccini, G., Duarte, C.M. & Marba, N. (2006). Genomic DNA isolation from green and brown algae (Caulerpales and Fucales) for microsatellite library construction (Note). Journal of Phycology 42: 741-745.

Zemke-White, W.L. & Ohno, M. (1999). World seaweed utilisation: an end-of-century summary. Journal of Applied Phycology 11: 369-376.

NCBI Nucleotide Sequences

Created: 12 December 1997 by M.D. Guiry

Verified by: 02 March 2010 by Wendy Guiry

Accesses: This record has been accessed by users 4693 times since it was created.

References
(Please note: only references with the binomials in the title are included. The information is from the Literature database.)

Barbier, P., Guise, S., Huitorel, P., Amade, P., Pesando, D., Briand, C., Peyrot, V. (2001). Caulerpenyne from Caulerpa taxifolia has an antiproliferative activity on tumor cell line SK-N-SH and modifies the microtubule network.. Life Sci. 70: 415-429.
Bellan-Santini, D., Arnaud, P.M., Bellan, G. & Verlaque, M. (1996). The influence of the introduced tropical alga Caulerpa taxifolia, on the biodiversity of the Mediterranean marine biota. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 76: 235-237, 1 table.
Boudouresque, C.-F., Bellan-Santini, D., Belsher, T., Duclerc, J., Durand-Clement, M., Francour, P., Harmelin-Vivien, M., Henocque, Y., Meinesz, A., Pesando, D., Pietra, F. & Verlaque, M. (1992). The introduction of the green alga Caulerpa taxifolia into the Mediterranean: the repercussions for the indigenous communities. Mésogée 52: 88-89.
Boudouresque, C.-F., Meinesz, A., Ribera, M.A. & Ballesteros, E. (1995). Spread of the green alga Caulerpa taxifolia (Caulerpales, Chlorophyta) in the Mediterranean: possible consequences of a major ecological event. Sci. Mar. 59(Suppl. 1): 21-29, 1 fig.
Boudouresque, C.-F., Meinesz, A., Verlaque, M. & Knoepffler-Peguy, M. (1992). The expansion of the tropical alga Caulerpa taxifolia (Chlorophyta) in the Mediterranean. Cryptogamie, Algologie 13(2): 144-145.
Ceccherelli, G. & Cinelli, F. (1997). Short-term effects of nutrient enrichment of the sediment and interactions between the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa and the introduced green alga Caulerpa taxifolia in a Mediterranean bay. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 217: 165-177.
Ceccherelli, G. & Cinelli, F. (1998). Habitat effect on spatio-temporal variability in size and density of the introduced alga Caulerpa taxifolia. Marine Ecology Progress Series 163: 289-294.
Ceccherelli, G. & Cinelli, F. (1999). A pilot study of nutrient enriched sediments in a Cymodocea nodosa bed invaded by the introduced alga Caulerpa taxifolia. Botanica Marina 42: 409-417.
Ceccherelli, G. & Cinelli, F. (1999). Effects of Posidonia oceanica canopy on Caulerpa taxifolia size in a north-western Mediterranean bay. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 240: 19-36.
Ceccherelli, G. & Cinelli, F. (1999). The role of vegetative fragmentation in the dispersal of the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia in the Mediterranean. Marine Ecology Progress Series 182: 299-303.
Chisholm, J.R.M. & Jaubert, J.M. (1999). Comments on the article of Olsen et al. (1998): Mediterranean Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa mexicana (Chlorophyta) are not conspecific. Journal of Phycology 35: 438-440, 1 fig.
Chisholm, J.R.M., Jaubert, J.M. & Giaccone, G. (1995). Caulerpa taxifolia in the northwest Mediterranean: introduced species or migrant from the Red Sea?. Compte Rendu Hebdomadaire des Séances de lAcadémie des Sciences. Paris. Série D 318D: 1219-1226.
de Vaugelas, J., Meinesz, A., Coquillard, P. & Hill, D. (1997). A computer simulation to evaluate the impact of Caulerpa taxifolia on Mediterranean biodiversity. Vie et Milieu 47(4): 397-400.
de Villèle, X. & Verlaque, M. (1995). Changes and degradation in a Polidonia oceanica bed invaded by the introduced tropical alga Caulerpa taxifolia in the north western Mediterranean. Botanica Marina 38: 79-87, 11 figs, 1 table.
Delgado, O., Rodríguez-Prieto, C., Gacia, E. & Ballesteros, E. (1996). Lack of severe nutrient limitation in Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh, an introduced seaweed spreading over the oligotrophic northwestern Mediterranean. Botanica Marina 39: 61-67.
Ferla, S., Tomasello, A., Ferreri, B., Fradà Orestano, C. & Calvo, S. (1994). Preliminary notes on epiphyte macroflora of Caulerpa taxifolia in the Straits of Messina. Giornale Botanico Italiano 128: 1096-1098.
Fischel, J.L., Lemee, R., Formento, P., Caldani, C., Moll, J.L., Pesando, D., Meinesz, A., Grelier, P., Pietra, F., Guerriero, A. & Milano, G. (1995). Cell growth inhibitory effects of caulerpenyne, a sesquiterpenoid from the marine alga Caulerpa taxifolia.. Anticancer Res. 15: 2155-2160.
Gacia, E., Rodriguez-Prieto, C., Delgado, O. & Ballesteros, E. (1996). Seasonal light and temperature responses of Caulerpa taxifolia from the northwestern Mediterranean. Aquatic Botany 53: 215-225.
Galgani, I., Pesando, D., Porthe-Nibelle, J., Fossat, B. & Girard, J.P. (1996). Effect of caulerpenyne, a toxin extracted fromCaulerpa taxifolia on mechanisms regulating intracellular pH in sea urchin eggs and sea bream hepatocytes. J. Giochem. Toxicol. 11: 243-250.
Ganteaume, A., Gobert, J., Malestroit, P., Ménager, V., Francour, P. & Boudouresque, C.-F. (1998). In vitro consumption of Caulerpa taxifolia (Chlorophyta) by accustomed and non-accustomed Paracentrotus lividus (Echinoid): seasonal variations. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 78: 239-248, 1 fig, 1 table.
Hasni, S., Zahid, P.B. & Bawani, B. (1986). Taxonomy and some biochemical values of Caulerpa taxifolia and Hypnea muciformis collected from Karachi Coast. Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research 29: 284-287, 2 figs, 1 table.
Ivesa, L., Blazina, M. & Najdek, M. (2004). Seasonal variations in fatty acid composition of Caulerpa taxifolia (M. Vahl) C. Ag. in the northern Adriatic Sea (Malinska, Croatia). Botanica Marina 47: 209-214.
Jaubert, J.M., Chisholm, J.R.M., Passeron-Seitre, G., Ducrot, D., Ripley, H.T. & Roy, L. (1999). No deleterious alterations in Posidonia beds in the Bay of Menton (France) eight years after Caulerpa taxifolia colonization. Journal of Phycology 35: 1113-1119.
Jousson, O., Pawlowski, J., Zaninetti, L., Meinesz, A. & Boudouresque, C.-F. (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.
Meinesz, A. & Boudouresque, C.-F. (1996). Sur l'origine de Caulerpa taxifolia en Méditerranée. Compte Rendu Hebdomadaire des Séances de lAcadémie des Sciences. Paris. Série D 319: 603-613, 4 figs, 1 table.
Meinesz, A. & Hesse, B. (1991). Introduction et invasion de l'algue tropicale Caulerpa taxifolia en Méditeranée nord-occidentale. Oceanologia Acta 14: 415-426.
Meinesz, A., Benichou, L., Blachier, J., Komatsu, T., Lemée, R., Molenaar, H. & Mari, X. (1995). Variations in the structure, morphology and biomass of Caulerpa taxifolia in the Mediterranean Sea. Botanica Marina 38: 499-508, 10 figs.
Meinesz, A., de Vaugelas, J., Hesse, B. & Mari, X. (1993). Spread of the introduced tropical green alga Caulerpa taxifolia in northern Mediterranean waters. Journal of Applied Phycology 5: 141-147.
Meusnier, I., Valero, M., Olsen, J.L. & Stam, W.T. (2004). Analysis of rDNA ITS1 indels in Caulerpa taxifolia (Chlorophyta) supports a derived, incipient species status for the invasive strain. European Journal of Phycology 39: 83-92.
Nielsen, R. & Price, I.R. (2001). Typification of Caulerpa cupressoides (Vahl) C. Agardh and C. taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh (Chlorophyta, Caulerpaceae). Taxon 50: 827-836.
Olsen, J.L., Valero, M., Meusnier, I., Boele-Bos, S. & Stam, W.T. (1998). Mediterranean Caulerpa taxifolia and C. mexicana (Chlorophyta) are not conspecific. Journal of Phycology 34: 850-856, 2 figs, 2 tables.
Pesando, D., Lemee, R., Ferrua, C., Amade, P. & Giraud, J.-P. (1996). Effects of caulerpenyne, the major toxin from Caulerpa taxifolia on mechanisms related to sea urchin egg cleavage. Aquat. Toxicol. 35: 139-155.
Phillips, J.A. & Price, I.R. (2002). How different is Mediterranean Caulerpa taxifolia (Caulerpales: Chlorophyta) to other populations of the species?. Marine Ecology Progress Series 238: 61-71.
Phillips, J.A. (2009). Reproductive ecology of Caulerpa taxifolia (Caulerpaceae, Bryopsidales) in subtropical eastern Australia. European Journal of Phycology 44(1): 81-88.
Sant, N., Delgado, O., Rodríguez-Prieto, C. & Ballesteros, E. (1996). The spreading of the introduced seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh in the Mediterranean Sea: testing the boat transportation hypothesis. Botanica Marina 39: 427-430.
Terrados, J. & Marba, N. (2006). Is the vegetative development of the invasive chlorophycean, Caulerpa taxifolia, favored in sediments with a high content of organic matter?. Botanica Marina 49: 331-338.
Thake, B., Herfort, L., Randone, M. & Hill, G. (2003). Susceptibility of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia to ionic aluminium. Botanica Marina 46: 17-23.
Verlaque, M. & Fritayre, P. (1994). Modifications des communautés algales méditerranéennes en présence de l'algue envahissante Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh. Oceanologica Acta 17: 659-672, 12 figs, 5 tables.
Zuljevic, A. & Antolic, B. (2000). Synchronous release of male gametes of Caulerpa taxifolia (Caulerpales, Chlorophyta) in the Mediterranean Sea (Research Note). Phycologia 39: 157-159.