Premiere signalisation de Caulerpa taxifolia (vahl) j. agardh en Tunisie

Abstract

Since its appearance in the north west of the Mediterranean sea in 1984, the green tropical seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia has not ceased to progress along the northern coast of the Mediterranean. The present work signals for the first time the presence of this seaweed on the eastern coasts of the Mediterranean and more precisely in the area of Sousse (Tunisia), in front of the harbour, at 17 meters depth. The arrival of Caulerpa taxifolia at Sousse, is certainly not the result of its natural progression from ancient stations. The most probable hypothesis explaining its existence in Sousse area would be its introduction linked to the anchoring of a boat having brought alga fragments attached to its anchor from an already colonized site.