The Devil Seaweed
Daily Tech and Science #-1499
The invasive seaweed, Chondria tumulosa, was first discovered in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in 2016 It forms thick mats that smother coral reefs and displace native species.
“Peering through holes in the seaweed, divers could see the white skeletal remains of coral that had been the backbone of a thriving ecosystem. Huge schools of reef fish, some found nowhere else in the world, were mysteriously absent. The green water was murky and menacing.”
NOAA has been actively investigating the spread of chondria and its potential impacts on the marine ecosystem. Scientists are working to identify the source of the seaweed, track its spread, and develop strategies to control its growth.