New species of seaweed threatens existence of protected coral reef near Hawaii

Scientists have warned of seaweed that was spreing rapidly in remote rthwestern Hawaiian islands, killing large patches of pristine coral. In a study published in journal Plos One, researchers from University of Hawaii explained that this newly discovered species of seaweed easily breaks off and tumbles around, eventually settling on corals to block ir and sunlight. 

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'Highly destructive seaweed'

Hear Spalding, co-author of study and longtime Hawaii algae researcher, said that it was “highly destructive seaweed” with potential to grow over entire reef. Explaining furr, she ded that re was an urgent need to figure out where its currently growing and what could be done to man it.

seaweed was first discovered in 2016 after researchers found it while conducting a routine survey in Pearl and Hermes Atoll. However, during ir visit last week, researchers found that 20 cm thick seaweed was “covering everything as far as eye could see". Warning about its dangers, scientists have mentioned that during dive y found that everything underneath weed it was de.

According to reports, this seaweed varies in size and density. After studying its DNA to trace its origin, researchers concluded that it was a new species of red algae and named it Chondria tumulosa. Scientists are also worried that actual cover area could be much larger than documented since y couldn't survey many sites during ir brief visit.

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