Species Regional Summary
Halimeda opuntia
None ( CAR-II )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st record: Jamaica/Caribbean Sea ('at the close of the 17th century' (Sloane 1707, cited by Kooistra and Verbruggen 2005)

Geographic Extent

Discovery Bay/Jamaica/Caribbean Sea (Kooistra and Verbruggen 2005); Isla Roatan/Honduras/Caribbean Sea (Kooistra and Verbruggen 2005); Belize/Caribbean Sea (Guiry and Donncha 2007)

Vectors

Level Vector
Probable Hull Fouling

Regional Impacts

Ecological ImpactCompetition
Following a die-off of the sea urchin Diadema, and overfishing of herbivorus fishes, coral reefs around Jamaica, were overgrown by macroalgae, including Halimeda, presumably H. opuntia. The macroalgal cover prevented recruitment by coral larvae (Hughes 1994).
 
Ecological ImpactHabitat Change
Following a die-off of the sea urchin Diadema, and overfishing of herbivorus fishes, coral reefs around Jamaica, were overgrown by macroalgae, including Halimeda, presumably H. opuntia. The macroalgal cover prevented recruitment by coral larvae (Hughes 1994).
 

References

Full Reference List for Halimeda opuntia

  • Nemesis (current)
  • Marine Invasions Lab
  • Partner Portals
    Nemesis California Panama Galapagos Chesapeake JTMD
  • Summaries
    Select Species All Taxa Groups Regions
  • News
  • login

Direct questions and comments to nemesis@si.edu.

©