Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : The tropical alga Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh has been displayed over the last fifteen years in tropical aquaria at the Oceanographic Museum, Monaco. Its accidental introduction into the natural environment dates from 1984. It developed first in the sea immediately below the museum, and resisted winter temperatures of 11 to 13-degrees-C. Gradually the population spread over all types of substrate, including rock, sand and mud, and over a wide range of depth, 3 to 35 m, on this relatively exposed site. In summer 1990 we became aware of its presence both to the east and to the west of Monaco. To the east, it now occurs on the whole of the eastern side of Cap Martin (3 km from Monaco) and is spreading over the west face. To the west we have observed it 150 km from Monaco near Toulon. In those sites which it colonized three years ago, its coverage now reaches 100 % over extensive areas in depths between 5 and 25 m. Areas supporting stands of Cymodocea nodosa and Posidonia oceanica are covered by fronds of C. taxifolia, which measure up to 45 cm in length. The development characteristics of the species in the Mediterranean, such as population density and frond length, are different from those in its native tropical areas. The rapid spreading of this alga is probably due both to sexual reproduction and to efficient vegetative reproduction. At the rate of spreading observed at present, further rapid extension of its range is to be feared. Moreover, wherever it becomes established, it considerably modifies the vegetal communities in the infralittoral zone. This species, like most of those in the genus Caulerpa, contains the toxin, caulerpenyn, which may play a role against other organisms such as grazers, epiphytes and competitors. This alga will be eaten only by certain animals such as the Mediterranean bream or saupe, Sarpa salpa. The toxin accumulated by fish which eat Caulerpa can render them unsuitable for human consumption, as their ingestion produces symptoms similar to those of Ciguatera poisoning. Never has a species so potentially harmful to the marine population been introduced into the Mediterranean. This biological pollution raises the major international problem of direct discharge of water having passed through aquaria or mariculture installations containing exotic species. As importing exotic marine species becomes technically easier, the lack of regulation risks further similar accidents concerning not only algae, but also metazoa and micro-organisms.
Oceanologica Acta (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1991 , Vol. 14 , N. 4 , P. 415-426

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00101/21268/18879.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00101/21268/

Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : This review addresses the problem of recently introduced plants in the Mediterranean in order to analyse their vectors, the dispersal processes and the possible ecological and economic consequences. Ninety-five cases (94 macroscopic algae and one seagrass) are listed and discussed. Three major routes of access into the Mediterranean are indicated: shipping, the Suez canal and aqua-culture. The recent introduction of Caulerpa taxifolia along our coasts has called attention to a new potential source: aquaria. Among the successful acclimatizations, cold-temperate Pacific and Atlantic species remain confined to the north of the Mediterranean (Gulf of Lions, Adriatic), whereas some tropical or sub-tropical plants colonize large areas. Some introduced algae proliferate to the detriment of the indigenous Mediterranean vegetation. In contrast with some terrestrial introductions, no population crash has been observed in the Mediterranean, although some notable fluctuations seem to occur in coastal lagoons. From an economic point of view, the two activities most affected by this phenomenon are aquaculture and fishing. With the gradual disappearance of European frontiers, the worldwide development of marine cultures and the multiplication of giant Seaworlds, the transfer of live marine organisms will become routine and the risk of new introductions will considerably increase in the Mediterranean. Only international legislation, established by the countries of the littoral, will be able to control these problems.
Oceanologica Acta (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1994 , Vol. 17 , N. 1 , P. 1-23

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00098/20879/18493.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00098/20879/

Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : The biology and ecology of the green tropical algae Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh have been studied in the lagoons of New Caledonia (South Pacific) with a view to understanding the invasion which began in 1984 in the northwest Mediterranean Sea. A total of 1772 stations were used to establish the spatial and depth distribution of this species, which can be considered as common in New Caledonia, since it has been found in 9 % of the stations. C. taxifolia occurred mainly at depths between 10 and 30 m. Monthly sampling has shown that its growth is maximum during the southern hemisphere spring. From 180 stations randomly sampled in the southwest lagoon we obtained a mean biomass of 0.046 g afdw/m(2), which accounts for only 0.18 % of the macrophytobenthic biomass in this lagoon. Nevertheless the species constitutes a food source which is specific to the small herbivorous mollusc sacoglosses.
Oceanologica Acta (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1994 , Vol. 17 , N. 5 , P. 563-569

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00099/21013/18639.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00099/21013/