P. Panayotidis et A. Zuljevic, Sexual reproduction of the invasive green alga Caulerpa racemosa var. occidentalis in the Mediterranean Sea, OCEANOL ACT, 24(2), 2001, pp. 199-203
Since the beginning of the 1990s, a pan-tropical species Caulerpa racemosa
var. occidentalis has been recorded on the numerous new locations throughou
t the Mediterranean, specifically on its northwestern part where until then
it had never been observed. Such extensive spreading is probably supported
by successful sexual reproduction. Field observations of fertile plants an
d synchronous gamete release of C. racemosa var. occidentalis were carried
out in Saronikos Gulf (Greece, Aegean Sea) at the beginning of July 1999. T
he fertile plants were detected due to reticulate depigmented protoplasmic
masses and cylindrical papillae. The alga is monoecious. The both sex gamet
es were released synchronously from all the fertile plants approximately 14
min before sunrise and formed a green gamete cloud. Although both sex game
tes were present, low gamete compatibility was noted during the laboratory
examination. (C) 2001 Ifremer/CNRS/IRD/Editions scientifiques et medicales
Elsevier SAS.