Hawaii ’s coral reefs have got a problem on their hands .
A new belligerent species of algae has been spot growing on the coral reefs of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument , the US National Monument cover 1.51 million straight kilometers ( 583,000 straight Roman mile ) of sea water supply that ’s home to many rarified species of coral , Pisces , raspberry , reptile , and nautical mammal .
scientist have never seen anything like it here before and they continue uncertain where the alga came from . Nevertheless , already this carmine - colored seaweed has taken over whole coral reefs in the area since it was first let out back in 2016 .
“ This is a highly destructive seaweed with the voltage to grow over entire reefs , ” Heather Spaldin , survey generator and assistant professor of biology and the College of Charleston , said in astatement . “We involve to figure out where it ’s presently found , and what we can do to manage it . This case of research needs train divers in the water as quickly as possible . The preferably we can get back to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument , the estimable . ”
Reported in the journalPLOS Onethis week , marine biologistsfrom the University of Hawaii at Manoa , College of Charleston , and the NOAAdescribe the fresh - namedChondria tumulosaalgae . A series of dives around Pearl and Hermes Atoll revealed the algae was most predominant at a profundity of around 10 to 15 meters ( ~33 to 50 feet ) where it form mats up to 18 centimeter ( 7 inches ) duncish that smothered the reef .
A multi - pronged depth psychology showed that the aggressive seaweed is not closely related to any do it Hawaiian native metal money , which generally live in harmony with the coral reefs . However , it remains unclear whether it is an invasive species brought into the area from elsewhere .
If aninvasive seaweedcovers a coral , it blocks out the sunlight and entail the single - celled zooxanthellae that subsist within their cells and provide them with solid food are not capable to photosynthesis . As a result , the starved corals become smothered and die . It can also have a much wider smash - on effect throughout the marine ecosystem as reef are home to a range of other marine creatures .
Once an incursive metal money such as algae demand delay of a nautical ecosystem , there is no straight forward means to reverse the change . So , for now , the researchers are on tenterhook to assure they do everything they can to prevent the species from spreading to other nautical areas .
“ Until we realise whether it is native or infix , and until we better empathize what is drive this irruption , it is critically important that research diver and inquiry ships do not unknowingly transport this metal money to other island , ” Randall Kosaki , NOAA enquiry coordinator at Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
He append , “ All of our dive gear was soaked in bleach , and all of our dive boat were spray down with bleaching agent prior to return to Honolulu . ”
