SCI/TECH: Caulerpa Taxifolia

Caulerpa Taxifolia is an algae that is, as we speak, colonizing the floor beds of our oceans, killing off all marine life (fish, sea urchins, etc.) and no one can stop it. It is like ivy or weeds, in the sense that once it grows in your garden, you can never be completely rid of it. However, unlike ivy or weeds (which are pretty harmless), this plant is like a suffocating blanket to all life on the ocean floor, and nothing is capable of surviving it.

Unfortunately, this algae is man-made, and is multiplying in vast numbers, spreading like wildfire. All that this algae needs to colonize other oceans, is one single piece of itself. For example, imagine that a strand of hair from your head or a skin cell from your pillow case would be enough to make an exact duplicate of you, then that duplicate would make another duplicate, and so on.

This algae was first found in an isolated floor bed of the ocean somewhere in Europe back in the mid 1990's, and since has been found on the ocean floors of 9 countries on 3 different continents, and is continuosly reproducing itself at an alarming rate. It could take only a matter of 15 more years for the entire ocean to be covered with caulerpa taxifolia.

www.pbs.org...



[Edited on 9-1-2004 by SkepticOverlord]

Originally posted by Virgo
Calerpa Taxifolia (spelling?)

Caulerpa taxifolia

And it's history is a little different by my sources.

1984 (SFC, 11/2/96, p.A18)
The deadly algae, Caulerpa taxifolia, was accidentally introduced into the Mediterranean Sea. It appeared to be a product of genetic mutation brought about by the use of ultraviolet light in aquariums. By 1996 it had spread from Spain to Croatia and slugs were being introduced that feed on the killer weed.

[Edited on 6-1-2004 by ADVISOR]

So what happens when everything in the Ocean dies?

If we can't change it and it will cover the entire ocean in 15 years...


Another reason to leave this dying planet.

edit: Ahh... Something eats it... Perhaps we shall have our oceans. We forget about adaptation too.


[Edited on 6-1-2004 by Lysergic]

That is so gorrible. Mankind has found another way to destroy nature. Science has failed our world. We can't kill of the whole ocean. We cant let this happen. Arg this is so horrible.

You are absolutely right ADVISOR....Thank you. I am glad that you were able to shed some more light on the subject.

I really hope that all people will get together soon to make a change before it's too late