1. Invasive Algae Coral Reef Degradation

2. Problems Competes for crevices housing wildlife, can cover and shadow out corals. Competes for crevices housing wildlife, can cover and shadow out corals. Uses nitrogen provided by coral to reproduce. Uses nitrogen provided by coral to reproduce. Growth at 10% increase over coral in last year. Growth at 10% increase over coral in last year. All these lead to the degradation of coral reef and their ecosystems All these lead to the degradation of coral reef and their ecosystems

3. The algae Kappaphycus alvarezii Kappaphycus alvarezii Gracilaria salicornia Gracilaria salicornia Caulerpa brachypus Caulerpa brachypus

4. Kappaphycus alvarezii Hawaii Red algae Red algae Extremely high growth rates, doubling in 15-30 days Extremely high growth rates, doubling in 15-30 days Branches usually irregularly arranged, 3 - 18 cm long Branches usually irregularly arranged, 3 - 18 cm long Dominating the changing marine ecology Dominating the changing marine ecology

5. Gracilaria salicornia Hawaii Red algae Red algae Intertidal to subtidal 4 meters deep, attached to limestone and basalt substrates Intertidal to subtidal 4 meters deep, attached to limestone and basalt substrates Introduced to Kane‘ohe Bay and Waikiki in the 1970’s Introduced to Kane‘ohe Bay and Waikiki in the 1970’s Propagate sexually as well as asexually Propagate sexually as well as asexually

6. Caulerpa brachypus Pacific (Florida) Green algae (dark to light green in color) Green algae (dark to light green in color) Branches, feather-like, flattened, and upright, 3 - 10 cm high Branches, feather-like, flattened, and upright, 3 - 10 cm high Small patches grow in sandy areas of tidepools and reef flats Small patches grow in sandy areas of tidepools and reef flats Has been designated a U.S. Federal Noxious Weed and currently prohibited in the U.S Has been designated a U.S. Federal Noxious Weed and currently prohibited in the U.S

7. Current Projects Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP) Coral Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (CRAMP) Founded in 1998 in Hawaii to monitor long-term changes in coral reef benthic communities. Founded in 1998 in Hawaii to monitor long-term changes in coral reef benthic communities.

8. The End