Further expansion of the alien seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla (Sonder) Verlaque, Huisman & Procacini (Ulvophyceae, Bryopsidales) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Invasive aquatic plants can cause local losses of species diversity throughout the world and they can also contribute to water quality deterioration. Although widely studied elsewhere, little information exists about invasive aquatic plants and their impacts in China. This study summarizes the taxonomy, origin, vector of introduction, current distribution, and the ecological impacts of invasive aquatic plants in China. This study provides useful information for the management of freshwater habitats and suggests strategies for curtailing the increasing problem of invasive aquatic plants and their impacts. We integrated data based upon original research and a literature review to compile an inventory of invasive aquatic plants in China. In total, we found 152 invasive aquatic plant species belonging to 84 genera and 39 families, representing four major growth forms including emergent (57.24%), submerged (27.63%), rooted floating leaf (9.87%), and free floating (5.26%) categories of aquatic plants. The Poaceae (Gramineae) (23 species) was the most represented and species-rich family, followed by Alismataceae (14 species), Cyperaceae (13 species), Nymphaeaceae and Araceae (both with 10 species). The majority of the invasive aquatic plant species were introduced from South America, and there were also many from North America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Most of these species (96.05%) are obligate freshwater species, while a minority (3.95%) is limited to marine or intertidal habitats. The ornamental trade has been the most frequent historic pathway for the introduction of invasive aquatic plants.

STANDING-STOCK BIOMASS AND DIVERSITY OF Caulerpa (Chlorophyta) IN SOLONG-ON, SIQUIJOR ISLAND, PHILIPPINES

“…Many studies have been conducted to determine the abundance and species diversity of Caulerpa around the world (Terrados & Ros 1995;Thibaut et al 2004;Verlaque et al 2004;Schembri et al 2015;Aplikioti et al 2016). Moreover, the focus on these studies were mainly on the invasiveness of the species (Cebrian & Ballesteros 2009;Bouiadjra et al 2010;Cevik et al 2007;Schembri et al 2015;Aplikioti et al 2016). Apart from an initial study on the standing stock of Caulerpa racemosa at Siquijor Island (Calumpong 1984), no similar study has been done.…”

Introduced marine macroflora of Lebanon and its distribution on the Levantine coast

“…in August 2003 in Syria (RAC/SPA -UNEP/MAP, 2003, misidentified as a dwarf form of C. mexicana; Bitar, 2010b, as a dwarf form of C. mexicana or C. taxifolia). Subsequently, it was recorded from Turkey (Gulf of Iskenderun) (Cevik et al, 2007, as C. taxifolia), Sicily (Jongma et al, 2013), Cyprus (Çiçek et al, 2013), Malta (Schembri et al, 2015), and Rodos Island (Aplikioti et al, 2016).…”

New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records 2019

“…The samples collected were morphologically identified through measurements of the diagnostic structural features used by Jongma et al (2012). The Algerian specimens were identical to those described previously in the Mediterranean Sea (Aplikioti et al, 2016, Shakman et al, 2017. In our study sites, C. taxifolia var distichophylla was accompanied by Lophocladia lallemandii (Montagne) Schmitz.…”