Gracilaria salicornia Gorilla Ogo Gracilaria salicornia http://www.raingarden.us/gracillaria%20salicornia.jpg

Characteristics and Appearance of Gorilla Ogo Found in tidepools and/or reef flats Brittle seaweed with cylindrical branches 2-5mm in diameter   Yellowish if growing in sunny spots Dark green or brownish when growing in shaded areas  Branching irregular  Forked at tips with tips bluntly rounded Reproduces Asexually http://www.hawaii.edu/malamalama/2006/01/images/f4_algaeseaweed.jpg http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/cor al/images/gorillaogo2.jpg

Origin of the Gracilaria salicornia Widespread in tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans Introduce to Hawaii by Philippine ships Found in Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, Big Island http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/ocean.jpeg origin of the gorilla ogo First Found in Hilo Bay in 1971 & introduce in Kaneohe Bay & Waikiki in 1970s. http://www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/invasive_algae/rhodo/gracilaria_salicornia.htm

Gorilla Ogo's "niche" on the community A producer that lives in the ocean and grows over coral, choking it and later kills it. Has major effects on Hawaiian oceans, like changing the ocean's temperature   Most effects are negative Invades Hawaiian oceans and beaches Floats on shores of beaches Spreads quickly through loose branches floating to different places http://kauaian.net/blog/wp-content/themes/default/images/sushi/ super-sucker-algae.jpg Above: Gorilla Ogo covers hawaii's reef on ocean floor.

Gorilla Ogo's "niche" in its community (Continued) CONS Grows over coral reef rapidly & kills the coral/ seaweed Increases temperature on ocean floor  Prevents coral from growing  Washes to shore, polluting the beaches Drives fishes away from their original homes Lessens diversity of coral reef ecosystem Changes food web and food chains of coral reef ecosystem Changes nutrient distribution and cyling of coral reef ecosystem   PROS Fish food for passing fish Used as composting and fertilizer for taro farmers in Hawaii   http://www.hawaiiinvasivespecies.org/pests/gorillaogo.html

Out-Competing Competitors Gorilla Ogo is able to out-compete it competitors because: Nothing really eats it. Very few fishes eat the seaweed. It has no predators Grows quickly and very invasive http://kauaian.net/blog/wp-content/themes/default/images/sushi/ super-sucker-algae.jpg http://media.photobucket.com/image/gorilla%20ogo %20affect%20environment/catelito2/gorillaogo.jpg http://cnnscitech.files.wordpress.com/2008/05 /algaehimag1.jpg http://www.hawaiibusiness.com/ Hawaii-Business/April-2004/Unwanted-Dead-Or-Alive/

Reasons for Success in Hawaii The gorilla ogo is so successful in Hawaii because: Grows quickly Primarily spread by fragmentation  Large amounts of algae wash ashore on beaches http://www.hawaiiinvasivespecies.org/pests/gorillaogo.html

Biological Problems Caused by Gorilla Ogo Grows quickly, covering massive parts of the reef   Thick texture and overgrowth cause suffocation, killing coral and other seaweeds  Reduces space for young new coral to attach to the reef and grow  Not a prefered food source for many reef dwellers  Changes bottom habitat, limiting access to holes and crevices for larger animals http://www.hawaiibusiness.com/ Hawaii-Business/April-2004/Unwanted-Dead- Or-Alive/

Economical Problems Caused by Gorilla Ogo Costs attributable to invasive species in the United States amount to approximately $137 billion each year   U.S. agricultural cost alone round to about $72.7 billion Now I am   We're missing something between the origin and niche http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_64TjEH6aotA/R7yWBuqRzoI /AAAAAAAAAKE/Ga0IqgyqzJU/s200/ Print_SS_Uchino20.jpg http://www.hawaiiinvasivespecies. org/pests/gorillaogo.html

Impact on Hawaii's Ecosystems & Native Species Displacement Known to compete with a native reef algae, G. Coronopifolia, for area on the reef flat    Thick patches of Gorilla Ogo block corals from sunlight and the flow of fresh seawater which kills them  Smothers beds of sea grass  Rice coral is disappearing due to enlargement of Gorilla Ogo species  Animals such as turtles and smaller fish are forced to find new areas of rest due to the limited space on the reef caused by large mats of Gorilla Ogo http://coreyfischer.com/images/ hawaii_collection/rice_coral.jpg Above: Disappearing Rice Coral

Impact on Hawaii's Ecosystem & Native Species Displacement (Cont.) The lesser diversity an ecosystem contains, the more unstable it is. http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/10/24/super%20sucker%20algae-jj-002.jpg Populations of algae-eating fish and sea urchins declined    High diversity coral communities shift to algae dominated reefs Greatly reduced species diversity caused by reduced coral diversity

What is being done about the Gorilla Ogo? Marine biologists are very aware of this invasive species  They are letting the community know about the invasive seaweed Citizens are manually picking invasive seaweed, but not the most productive way to get rid of the Gorilla Ogo Scuba divers are vacuuming the Gorilla Ogo, which more efficient than doing by hand SUPER SUCKER PROJECT by Nature Conservancy & UH Mānoa http://themolokaidispatch.com /files/images/web%20pic. img_assist_custom.jpg Above: A man picks Gorilla ogo from a local pond in moloka'i.

What is being done about the Gorilla Ogo? (continued) Government organization called, "The Division of Aquatic Resources” DAR Mālama Mauna Lua Bay HEAR & HISC Nature Conservancy & UH Mānoa  Another government organization called "Aquatic Resources Monit0ring” ʻAʻohe Limu ʻe- Alien Algae clean -up   Contact them at:     Division of Aquatic Resources     1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330     Honolulu, HI 96813     Phone: 808-587-0100     FAX: 808-587-0115     email: DLNR.aquatics@hawaii.gov Ask for Dan Pulhemus, administrator of Division of Aquatic Resources (808) 643-PEST     Design & Analysis Team     US EPA     200 SW 35th St     Corvallis, OR 97333 Contact Robert Nishimoto, Head of Design & Analysis Team

What can be done by the government to remove Gorilla Ogo? Make commercials about invasive seaweed  Bring the problem to public's attention Get others to help clean infested beaches   Publicate more local beach clean- up events Good for the environment Multiple people will clean coral faster Makes a good outing event for family and friends Have educational opportunities to teach the problem in various school via environmental fairs Removal or clean-up of the invasive seaweed

THE MAIN IDEA... GRACILARIA SALICORNIA IS AN INVASIVE SEAWEED THAT ALTERS THE CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM   GRACILARIA SALICORNIA IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THE DIVESITY OF THE OCEANS GRACILARIA IS ALSO AFFECTING OUR  ECONOMY          (no fish = less fishing = less fish to sell = less money) WE MUST PROTECT THE OCEAN AND ITS RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS! THE GORILLA OGO CAN BE STOPPED, BUT WE NEED EVERYONES HELP TO GET RID OF THIS INVASIVE SEAWEED TO MAKE HAWAI'I A BETTER PLACE!

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