Caulerpa: Difference between revisions

Caulerpa
	Caulerpa prolifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Chlorophyta
Class:	Bryopsidophyceae
Order:	Bryopsidales
Family:	Caulerpaceae
Genus:	Caulerpa; J.V. Lamouroux, 1809
Type species
	Caulerpa prolifera; (Forsskål) J.V. Lamouroux, 1809
Species
	About 86

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Revision as of 16:41, 14 October 2009

Caulerpa is a genus of seaweeds in the family Caulerpaceae (among the green algae). They are unusual because they consist of only one cell with many nuclei, making them among the biggest single cells in the world. A species in the Mediterranean can have a stolon more than 3 metres (9 ft) long, with up to 200 fronds.

Food use

Some species (especially Caulerpa lentillifera and Caulerpa racemosa) are eaten under the names sea grape or green caviar or umi-budo in Okinawa. They have a peppery taste. Seagrapes are eaten in Indonesian cuisine, sometimes fresh, and othertimes coated in sugar. They are raised in Cebu, for domestic consumption in the Philippines as well as export to Japan.

Possible risk of poisoning

Unconfirmed reports claim that the alkaloid Caulerpin found in seagrapes can sometimes cause poisoning. ^{[citation needed]}

Invasive behaviour

Another species, Caulerpa taxifolia, has become an invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea, Australia and southern California (where it has been eradicated). It is thought that Caulerpa species capable of surviving in temperate waters are freed from predators, in part contributing to invasive growth. Most Caulerpa species evolved in tropical waters, where herbivores have an immunity to toxic compounds within the alga. Temperate water herbivores have no natural immunity to these toxins, allowing Caulerpa to grow unchecked if introduced to temperate waters. C. racemosa has recently been found in waters around Crete, where it is thought to have contributed to a significant reduction in fisheries. The alga has invaded the area from the warmer waters of the Red Sea.

In U.S. waters, the Mediterranean strain of Caulerpa taxifolia is listed as a federal noxious weed, under the Plant Protection Act. The Aquatic Nuisance Species Taskforce has also created a National Management Plan for the Genus Caulerpa. The state of California also prohibits possession of nine different species of Caulerpa.

Use in aquariums

Caulerpa is common in the aquarium hobby as a nitrate absorber because of its rapid growth under relatively adverse conditions. It may also be used in refugiums for a long term nitrite absorber. Many introductions of invasive Caulerpa to the wild are thought to have occurred via aquarium dumping although there is no proof of it.

Species

The species currently recognised are:

C. agardhii
C. alternans
C. annulata
C. antoensis
C. articulata
C. ashmeadii
C. bartoniae
C. bikinensis
C. biserrulata
C. brachypus
C. brownii
C. buginensis
C. cactoides
C. carruthersii
C. cliftonii
C. constricta
C. crassifolia
C. cupressoides
C. dichotoma
C. diligulata
C. distichophylla
C. ellistoniae
C. elongata
C. falcifolia
C. faridii
C. fastigiata
C. fergusonii
C. filicoides
C. filiformis
C. flexilis
C. floridana
C. harveyi
C. hedleyi
C. heterophylla
C. holmesiana
C. imbricata
C. juniperoides
C. kempfii
C. lagara
C. lanuginosa
C. lentillifera
C. lessonii
C. longifolia
C. macrophysa
C. manorensis
C. matsueana
C. mexicana
C. microphysa
C. murrayi
C. nummularia
C. obscura
C. okamurae
C. oligophylla
C. ollivieri
C. opposita
C. papillosa
C. parvula
C. paspaloides
C. peltata
C. pickeringii
C. pinnata
C. plumulifera
C. prolifera
C. pusilla
C. qureshii
C. racemosa
C. remotifolia
C. reniformis
C. reyesii
C. scalpelliformis
C. sedoides
C. selago
C. serrulata
C. sertularioides
C. seuratii
C. simpliciuscula
C. spathulata
C. subserrata
C. taxifolia
C. trifaria
C. urvilleana
C. vanbossea
C. veravalensis
C. verticillata
C. vesiculifera
C. webbiana
C. zeyheri

References

^ Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2007). "Genus: Caulerpa taxonomy browser". AlgaeBase version 4.2 World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

Food and Agriculture Organization - Seaweeds used as human food
ITIS report
Largest Single Cell
CISR: Caulerpa taxifolia or Killer Alga Center for Invasive Species Research page on Caulerpa taxifolia and Killer Alga

[Algaebase-1] Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2007). "Genus: Caulerpa taxonomy browser". AlgaeBase version 4.2 World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 ===Possible risk of poisoning===
-Unconfirmed reports claim that the [[alkaloid]] [[Caulerpin]] found in seagrapes can sometimes cause [[poison]]ing.
+Unconfirmed reports claim that the [[alkaloid]] [[Caulerpin]] found in seagrapes can sometimes cause [[poison]]ing. {{fact}}
 ==Invasive behaviour==
 Another species, ''[[Caulerpa taxifolia]]'', has become an invasive species in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], Australia and southern California (where it has been eradicated).  It is thought that ''Caulerpa'' species capable of surviving in temperate waters are freed from predators, in part contributing to invasive growth.  Most ''Caulerpa'' species evolved in tropical waters, where herbivores have an immunity to toxic compounds within the alga.  Temperate water herbivores have no natural immunity to these toxins, allowing ''Caulerpa'' to grow unchecked if introduced to temperate waters.   ''C. racemosa'' has recently been found in waters around [[Crete]], where it is thought to have contributed to a significant reduction in [[fisheries]].  The alga has invaded the area from the warmer waters of the [[Red Sea]].