Chondria tumulosa facts for kids

Chondria tumulosa is a type of red algae, which is a kind of seaweed. It belongs to a group of seaweeds called Rhodomelaceae. This seaweed was first found in 2016. It was growing in small patches in the Pearl and Hermes Atoll, which is a group of islands and reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

What is Chondria tumulosa?

Chondria tumulosa is a special kind of red seaweed. It was first discovered in 2016. At first, it only grew in small areas. These areas were in the Pearl and Hermes Atoll. This atoll is part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

How did it spread?

By 2019, this seaweed had spread a lot. It covered thousands of square meters of the ocean floor. This thick seaweed started to cover and kill large parts of the coral reefs. Coral reefs are very important homes for many ocean animals.

Why is it a problem?

C. tumulosa is different from other seaweeds in its group. It grows like a tumbleweed. This means that pieces of the seaweed can easily break off. These pieces then float away and start growing in new places. This helps it spread very quickly.

Where did it come from?

Scientists are not sure where C. tumulosa originally came from. It acts a lot like an invasive species. An invasive species is one that spreads to a new area and harms the environment. This seaweed is also not closely related to other seaweeds found in Hawaii.

However, it would be hard for a new species to reach such a faraway place. Another idea is that it is a native species. This means it has always been there. It might have suddenly started spreading a lot because of changes in the ocean environment.

What can be done?

It is very important to find ways to control this seaweed. Scientists need to stop it from spreading further. This will help protect the important coral reefs in the Hawaiian Islands.