Aquatic Invasive Species

Description:

• Leathery, paddle-shaped blades connected to a compact stem
• Grows in sand, mud, and coral substrate
• Pale to dark green in color
• Can be found with other species growing on it

Concern:

• High growth rate
• Spreads by fragmentation of the fibers in the stem
• Often found on sandy bottoms, outcompeting sea grasses that feed turtles and other marine species
• Traps sediment and mud, which can create an anoxic layer
• Introduction is unknown; first reported in early 1980s
• A second species, Avrainvillea erecta, has recently been recorded near Honolulu Harbor, with concerns of additional spreading (Wade et al. 2018)

Impacts:

• Causes shift in ecosystem; what was once coral dominated is now algae dominated with low diversity
• Habitat loss greatly affects recreational and commercial fisheries

Distribution:

• Oahu: Predominantly in Maunalua Bay
• Kauai