Cladophora laetevirens (Dillwyn) Kütz.

Description: Plants filamentous, branched, uniseriate, forming stiff, compact hemispherical pads to 5 cm high, or as sparse thalli to 20 cm high in protected areas. Pale green to grass green. Branching pseudodichotomous or pseudotrichotomous below, somewhat unilateral above, forming angles 25°-45°. Filaments straight to slightly curved; cells cylindrical, slightly swollen at distal ends, 50-100(-200) um diam., 3-11 diameters long; apices straight or curved, to 37 um diam, 3.5-11 diam. long. Rhizoids fine, form from basal or adjacent cells.

Introduction and Origin: Native to Hawaii.

Hawaiian Distribution: Kauai, Oahu

Habitat: Near the line of low tide to 2 m deep, on hard substrates.

Environmental Effects: Not studied. May affect recruitment of other species by successfully competing for substrate.

World Distribution: Hawaiian islands, the Caribbean

Commercial Interests: None.

Rate of Spread / Method: Very high growth rates. Dispersal by fragmentation and vegetative growth (filaments have diffuse growth), motile gametes, and zoospores.

Factors likely to influence Spread and Distribution: Irradiance, temperature, high nutrients availability.

Reasons for Success: Rapid growth rate, high nutrients availability. Low surface to volume ratio ensures fast nutrient uptake. Diffuse growth of filaments facilitates vegetative propagation through fragmentation.

Control Methods: None used.

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