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Review Article Volume 15 Issue 1
Is Caulerpa cylindracea sonders really one of the worst invaders of the Mediterranean Sea?
Mauro Lenzi
Received: February 28, 2026 | Published: March 9, 2026
Citation: Lenzi M. Is caulerpa cylindracea sonders really one of the worst invaders of the Mediterranean Sea? J Aquac Mar Biol. 2026;15(1):38-44. DOI: 10.15406/jamb.2026.15.00439
Abstract
A critical review of the Mediterranean distribution of the alien Chlorophyta Caulerpa cylindracea is conducted, focusing primarily on experimental field studies that have demonstrated its aggressiveness toward native populations and its ability to spread and establish itself in multiple substrates, and also it focuses on those experimental field studies, usually more recent, that have highlighted the spread of C. cylindracea as a consequence of factors that subjected the ecosystem to more or less reversible stress, which then allowed the invasion. Although this species is recognized for its broad tolerance to various environments, eutrophication, sufficient light radiation, and bare seabeds are conditions that favour or may be essential for its spread. It is highly likely that an ecosystem in biological equilibrium, with an intact food web, would not be subject to attacks by this species, except in sporadic and transient presences. Indeed, it is not clear whether the variations in the ecosystem are due to the alien species, to which they are usually attributed, or to other stress factors.
Keywords: Caulerpa cylindracea, non-native macroalgae, eutrophication, ecosystem decline, biological invasion
©2026 Lenzi. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.