INTRODUCTION:
Nowadays, the Mediterranean Sea suffers a terrible problematic with the algae called Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl), a green algae from the Clorophyta division, with blades ranging 2-15cm. C. taxifolia has a tropical origen, with presence in warm seas. It reaches the Mediterranean Sea, most likely due to the water draining from the Oceanographic institute of Monaco, although it was also discussed that the invassive algae was carried on the hull of a boat. The first record of C. taxifolia was near Monaco, in 1984. Right now, it occupies about 15 000 000 square meters of seabed and it represents a threat for the ecosystem since one of its methabolic prodcuts, the caulerpine, is toxic for the mediterranean organisms, cause for wich is called killer algae or green plague. One of the worst consequences of the existence of C. taxifolia in the mediterran is the tendence to occupy the space of Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus), a flowering underwater plant endemic to the Mediterranean, with elongated and plaane leaves up to 1 m long. That plant is forced to move, causing the same to the fauna hosted by P. oceanica acoge, because the caulerpine avoids the depredation of C. taxifolia (except for the fish Sarpa salpa). The ecological consequences can be terrible, and that's why they are doing awareness campaigns for the elimination and non-spreading of the C. taxifolia.
