Advance the Caulerpa Taxifolia

1993/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ekologia

In the Mediterranean, the Caulerpa taxifolia is a constantly expanding seaweed. Although at the end of 1990 it occupied only three hectares, a year later it had 30 hectares in charge and at the end of 1992, 427 hectares. According to experts from the Maritime Laboratory of the University of Nice, the annual progression factor is of the order of 6.

This algae was first detected in 1984 in front of Monaco, but now also appears in Toulo, Eastern Pyrenees, Balearic Islands and Italy. It has spread mainly thanks to the anchors of the boats, which take them from one port to another.

In addition, about 50 meters deep in the sea has been seen in many areas the Caulerpa, and in the tropical seas this algae has never been seen these depths. Therefore, it remains to be seen the long-term effect of this plant on Mediterranean ecosystems, which is what concerns scientists in the last three years.

For the group working at the Monaco Oceanography Museum, the development of the Caulerpa is a logical (therefore beneficial) consequence of the tropicalization of the Mediterranean. For Professor Meinesz's group, the expansion of this algae threatens the survival of coastal ecosystems.