able to thrive in heavily polluted waters, possibly contributing to its spread in the Mediterranean. Presence in the Mediterranean Sea The presence of C. taxifolia in the Mediterranean was first reported in 1984 in an area adjacent to the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. Alexandre Meinesz, a marine biologist, attempted to alert Moroccan and French authorities to the spread of the strain in 1989, but the governments failed to respond to his concerns. The occurrence of the strain is generally believed to be due to an accidental release by the museum, but Monaco rejected the attribution and instead claimed that the observed algae was a mutant strain of C. mexicana. By 1999, scientists agreed that it was no longer possible to eliminate the presence of C. taxifolia in the Mediterranean. A study published in 2002 found that beds of Posidonia oceanica in the Bay of Menton were not negatively affected eight years after colonization by C. taxifolia. Other published studies have shown that fish diversity and biomass are equal or greater in Caulerpa meadows than in seagrass beds and that Caulerpa had no effect on composition or richness of fish species. Studies in 1998 and 2001 found that the strain observed in the Mediterranean was genetically identical to aquarium strains, with similarities to an additional population in Australia. Presence in Australia A 2007 study found that a native bivalve mollusc species was negatively affected by the presence of C. taxifolia, but that the effect was not necessarily different from that of native seagrass species. A 2010 study indicated that the effect of detritus from C. taxifolia negatively impacted abundance and species richness. Presence in California C. taxifolia was found in waters near San Diego, California in 2000, where chlorine bleach was used in efforts to eradicate the strain. The strain was declared eradicated from Agua Hedionda Lagoon in 2006. California passed a law in 2001 forbidding the possession, sale, transport, or release of Caulerpa taxifolia within the state. The Mediterranean clone of C. taxifolia was listed as a noxious weed in 1999 by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, prohibiting interstate sale and transport of the strain without a permit under the Noxious Weed Act and Plant Protection Act. Other negative effects C. taxifolia may become entangled in fishing gear and boat propellers. Control methods C. taxifolia may be controlled via mechanical removal, poisoning with chlorine, or application of salt.