Acanthophora spicifera (Rhodomelaceae)

Acanthohora spicifera is a seaweed that grows in upright clumps of spiny branches, 1-2 mm in diameter. It can be pale yellow, brownish, dark green, or reddish (often dark green in intertidal areas and high wave motion areas). This species grows on the reef in intertidal, lagoon and reef flat habitats, or it can be free-floating.  (source)In Hawaii, Acanthohora spicifera outcompetes native seaweeds for space on the reef. This species readily reproduces and spreads by fragmentation (floating pieces of seaweed) and spores, and continues to spread attached to the hulls of boats. It fouls the hulls of boats used for interisland transport, making them less fuel-efficient.  Acanthophora spicifera was accidentally introduced to Hawaii from Guam in 1950 by hull fouling on the fuel barge "Yon 146." The first fragments of this species were discovered in Pearl Harbor in 1952. It can now be found on all main Hawaiian Islands. 

Species description or overview

Invasive algae Acanthophora spicifera overview 
Taxonomy, description, ecology, impacts and distribution of invasive algae Acanthophora spicifera are provided by University of Hawaii Botany Department.

Acanthophora spicifera: an invasive marine alga in Hawaii
Acanthophora spicifera: an invasive marine alga in Hawaii

Spiny seaweed or prickly seaweed (Acanthophora spicifera) overview from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC)
Spiny seaweed's description, impacts, images, and distribution in Hawaii are from HISC's high-profile invasive pests site.

Acanthophora spicifera information
Spiny seaweed ecology, habitat, dispersal, and management are from The Global Invasive Species Database.

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Identification

ReefWatcher's Field Guide to Alien and Native Hawaiian Marine Algae (Common Limu of Hawaii)
Images, descriptions, habitat, and ecology of common Hawaiian limu are from the University of Hawaii Sea Grant program.

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Taxonomy & nomenclature

GRIN nomenclature info for Acanthophora spicifera
Nomenclatural information about Acanthophora spicifera is provided by USDA/ARS/NGRP/GRIN.

ITIS nomenclature info for Acanthophora spicifera
Nomenclatural information about Acanthophora spicifera is provided by ITIS.

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Impacts

Acanthophora spicifera (Rhodomelaceae): species information from GCW
Information on Acanthophora spicifera as relevant to Pacific Islands is provided by the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

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Images

Marine algae of Hawaii: red algae
Alien algae and corresponding competing native species are shown on this site from the University of Hawaii Botany Department.

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The content of this page is based on information last generated on 18 June 2009 by PT. The template for this page was created on 15 March 2004 by EMS, and was last updated on 20 February 2006 by PT.

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