This is the slug that eats caulerpa.

http://melevsreef.com/id/sacoglossa.html

Marc


Wolf wrote:
http://www.ridnis.ucdavis.edu/Caulerpataxifolia.html
im watching a special right now on NOVA, KCET. hope this answers some
questions for all. it seems that the algae dubbed "Killer Alage" that has
taken over the Mediterranian and found also in some parts of California now
is a marine tank hybrid that has been released into the wild, accidentaly or
otherwise relys on a single toxin that is in high dosages that the fish dont
like. It is commonly found in marine tanks and i think its invading my tank
as well. SO i guess we cant rely on and fish or urchins to control it. It
spreads via gametes about 5 microns in size. It seems that it spreads by
vegatative reproduction through self cloning rather than sexual
reproduction. They have found this to be true because no female gametes
could be found, only males. It can take only a tiny fragment picked up by
an anchor of a ship to start a new colony hundreds of miles away. it went
from Monaco, to Italy, to Croatia, throughout the Med, its spreading
worldwide.
This is an atrificial strain bred by humans for decorative uses. It is
taking over all our beautiful reefs and leaving no fish, and no life behind!
They thought it could have came from the Monaco oceanographical Museum, as
it was directly above the first known site of contamination. I have been to
this beautiful meseum, it preserves alot of sea life. I was there when
Jacques Cousteau ran it, but during that time it may have been the time of
accidental release, but they deny this. Either way, Jacques has done a
world of good for Marine research. When Jacques found out, he later told the
French Environmantal Research that is of great concern, but the French
Research thought it would be a waste of money at that time. . The temp is
from 20deg celcius to 13deg celcius in winter.
Then they traced the plant all the way to Stuttgart Shoreline, and found
some in the Stuttgart aquarium that flourished so rapidly, a species that
had came from the Pacific.

in July 200 was found in coastal lagoon in southern california. could have
been as easy as cleaning aquarium in front yard they say, and it may have
floated down gutter into storm drain.

Hypotheses 1.
someone selected an exceptionally cold resistant strain somewhere and bred
it in stuttgart back in 1970's from the wild

Hypotheses 2
someone bred it in the aquarium at stuttgart and through normal aquarium
lights and addition of standardchemicals genetic change occured

It is now a global problem

They have enacted a radial plan of eradication using chlorine covering the
chlorine with a tarpauline which kills everything, its a price we are
willing to pay so our whole coastline isnt smothered by this algae.
The solution seems to be working, by 2003 no new algae growth has been
found, in California atleast.In the Medeterranian however, the algae has
won, its growth is too large. Some places in france they will have to pull
it out by hand if it reaches some reef areas.

There is a tiny tropical slug that eats this algae. It feeds exclusivly on
caulerpa. This slug seems to be proliferating in the medeterranian, it
produces an enzyme that neutralizes the toxins in its digestive system.
They eat it by sucking out the juices. They are thinking of realising
thousands of these slugs to slow down the spread. But alot of study needs
to be done. It would be adding another alien species into the sea. But it
seems its safe because it ONLY eats caulerpa. a problem it this slug cant
live in deeper waters, so World Scientists are called upon to find on that
lives in deeper waters than can eat this strain.

Australia is also under attack. They tried huge amounts of salt, which
worked but they say theres not enough salt in the world to finish the job,
and they tried copper sulfate but that was too controversial. They have to
now rely on hand picking. You are right Mark! haha. Hand pick!

The dangerous plant now grows in 9 countries on 4 continents, and the
problem is entirely man made. Improper disposal can start a whole new
problem and a new invasion.

Be CAREFUL GUYS!



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