VLIZ Alien Species Consortium (2022). Codium fragile subsp. fragile. Niet-inheemse soorten in het Belgisch deel van de Noordzee en aanpalende estuaria = Non-indigenous species from the Belgian part of the North Sea and estuaria. VLIZ Alien Species Consortium (VLIZ): Oostende. Diff. pag. pp.
Part of: Niet-inheemse soorten in het Belgisch deel van de Noordzee en omliggende estuaria = Non-indigenous species from the Belgian part of the North Sea and estuaria. VLIZ Alien Species Consortium (VLIZ): Ostend. ISSN 2983-5518, more
Related to:
VLIZ Alien Species Consortium (2020). Codium fragile subsp. fragile - Vertakt viltwier, in: Verleye, T. et al.Niet-inheemse soorten in het Belgisch deel van de Noordzee en aanpalende estuaria. VLIZ Special Publication, 86: pp. 57-62, more
Originally, ‘dead man’s fingers’ Codium fragile subsp. fragile, otherwise known as sputnik weed, occurred only in the Pacific region, off the coast of Japan. It is a green alga that typically grows in sheltered areas such as harbours, bays and tidal pools. The species arrived in Europe by attaching itself to ship hulls and via the transport of shellfish. In 1939, ‘dead man’s fingers’ was observed for the first time in Belgium in the Sluice Dock of Ostend. It competes with native species of algae and often forms a dense pack on the existing shellfish beds. After a decline in 2003, the species has increased its numbers in the sluice-dock since 2006.
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