Trididemnum solidum
System : Marine
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Ascidiacea
Enterogona
Didemnidae
  • General
  • Distribution
  • Impact
  • Management
  • Bibliography
  • Contact
Common name
Mattenseescheide (English), ascidie blanche encro�tante (English), sinascidia entapizante (English), overgrowing mat tunicate (English)
Synonym
Didemnum solidum
Similar species
Summary
The colonial ascidia Trididemnum solidum is present throughout the West Indies to Florida, the Bahamas to Venezuela. T. solidum grow as mat like sheets that can grow over coral, sponges and macroalgae. It is widespread in the Netherland Antilles. A nine fold increase over a 15 year period was recorded along the 84 km of fringing reef in Curacao. Here it forms large mats actively outcompeting, overgrowing and killing live coral. T. solidum is a bacterial suspension feeder and bacterial increases in the environment have been implicated in its rapid increase in the Caribbean. The increased eutrophication has been linked to human activity and urban development.
Reproduction
Trididemnum solidum are viviparous and start reproducing when they reach a size of 11-15 cm. In Curacao and Panama T. solidum is capable of breeding throughout the year, and maybe only limited by adverse conditions. The larvae have a short free-swimming period and settle very quickly showing a preference for natural coral rock over smooth clean surfaces. The larvae after settlement remian inactive for 3-4 weeks before growing out into small colonies. Colonies grow into 4-5 mm thick whitish to purple coloured mats that may grow over 1 m (Van Duyl et al 1981).

Principal source:

Compiler: IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) with support from the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme (OTEP) project XOT603, a joint project with the Cayman Islands Government - Department of Environment

Review:

Publication date: 2010-06-08

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Trididemnum solidum. Downloaded from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1654 on 19-04-2024.

Management Info
An attempt was made on Bonaire to remove Trididemnum solidum colonies. Colonies were removed from depths of 4 to 25 m. When the sites were examined 6 weeks later, T. solidum recruits with a mean diameter of 25 cm, were found on 20% of the sites. Monitoring is continuing (Mcgrath and Peachey 2008).
Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Trididemnum solidum
ALIEN RANGE
NATIVE RANGE
  • bahamas
  • belize
  • bermuda
  • bes islands (bonaire, sint eustatius and saba)
  • brazil
  • cuba
  • curacao
  • guadeloupe
  • puerto rico
  • united states
  • venezuela
  • west indies
Informations on Trididemnum solidum has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.
Lorem Ipsum
Location Status Invasiveness Occurrence Source
Details of Trididemnum solidum in information
Status
Invasiveness
Arrival date
Occurrence
Source
Introduction
Species notes for this location
Location note
Management notes for this location
Impact
Mechanism:
Outcome:
Ecosystem services:
Impact information
Red List assessed species 0:
Locations
CURACAO
Mechanism
[1] Competition
Outcomes
[1] Environmental Ecosystem - Habitat
  • [1] Reduction in native biodiversity
Management information
An attempt was made on Bonaire to remove Trididemnum solidum colonies. Colonies were removed from depths of 4 to 25 m. When the sites were examined 6 weeks later, T. solidum recruits with a mean diameter of 25 cm, were found on 20% of the sites. Monitoring is continuing (Mcgrath and Peachey 2008).
Locations
BES ISLANDS (BONAIRE, SINT EUSTATIUS AND SABA)
Management Category
Eradication
  • BES ISLANDS (BONAIRE, SINT EUSTATIUS AND SABA)
Bibliography
15 references found for Trididemnum solidum

Management information
IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)., 2010. A Compilation of Information Sources for Conservation Managers.
Summary: This compilation of information sources can be sorted on keywords for example: Baits & Lures, Non Target Species, Eradication, Monitoring, Risk Assessment, Weeds, Herbicides etc. This compilation is at present in Excel format, this will be web-enabled as a searchable database shortly. This version of the database has been developed by the IUCN SSC ISSG as part of an Overseas Territories Environmental Programme funded project XOT603 in partnership with the Cayman Islands Government - Department of Environment. The compilation is a work under progress, the ISSG will manage, maintain and enhance the database with current and newly published information, reports, journal articles etc.
Mcgrath, Emily & Rita Peachey, 2008. The Colonial Tunicate Trididemnum solidum in The Bonaire National Marine Park: Colony Removal As A Potential Management Strategy
Summary: Available from: http://www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs/abstract_files/icrs2008-000953.pdf [Accessed 26 July 2010]
General information
Bak, R. P. M.; Joenje, M.; de Jong, I.; Lambrechts, D. Y. M.; Nieuwland, G., 1998. Bacterial suspension feeding by coral reef benthic organisms. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 175(0). Dec. 17, 1998. 285-288.
Bak, R. P. M.; Lambrechts, D. Y. M.; Joenje, M.; Nieuwland, G.; Van Veghel, M. L. J., 1996. Long-term changes on coral reefs in booming populations of a competitive colonial ascidian. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 133(1-3). 1996. 303-306.
Bak, R. P. M., Sybesma, J., van Duyl, F. C., 1981. The Ecology of the Tropical Compound Ascidian Trididemnum solidum. II. Abundance, Growth and Survival. Marine Ecology Progress Series 6:43-52
Bruckner, A.W. & R.J. Bruckner, 2006. The recent decline of Montastraea annularis (complex) coral populations in western Cura�ao: a cause for concern? Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 54 (Suppl. 3): 45-58, December 2006
Summary: Available from: http://www.scielo.sa.cr/pdf/rbt/v54s3/3392.pdf [Accessed 24 August 2010]
Donn�es d Observations pour la Reconnaissance et l�Identification de la faune et de la flore Subaquatiques (DORIS), 2009. Trididemnum solidum Van Name, 1902
Summary: Available from: http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=1810 [Accessed 24 August 2010]
Duyl, F. C, van, Bak, R. P. M., Sybesma, J., 1981. The Ecology of the Tropical Compound Ascidian Trididemnum solidum. I. Reproductive Strategy and Larval Behaviour. Marine Ecology Progress Series 6:35-42
Hirose, Euichi; Mamiko Hirose; Brett A. Neilan, 2006. Localization of Symbiotic Cyanobacteria in the Colonial Ascidian Trididemnum miniatum (Didemnidae, Ascidiacea) Zoological Science May 2006 : Vol. 23, Issue 5, pg(s) 435-442
Lambert, Gretchen, 2002. Nonindigenous Ascidians in Tropical Waters. Pacific Science, Volume 56, Number 3, July 2002, pp. 291-298 (Article)
Lambert, Gretchen, 2007. Invasive sea squirts: A growing global problem. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology. 342(1, Sp. Iss. SI). MAR 26 2007. 3-4.
Patterson, M.R. & N.J. Relles, 2008. Autonomous Underwater Vehicles resurvey Bonaire: a new tool for coral reef management. Proceedings of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 7-11 July 2008 Session number 16
Summary: Available from: http://www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs/proceedings/files/m16-10.pdf [Accessed 24 August 2010]
SeaLifeBase, 2010. Trididemnum solidum
Summary: Available from:http://www.sealifebase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=54256 [Accessed 26 July 2010]
Sybesma, J., van Duyl, F. C, Bak, R. P. M., 1981. The Ecology of the Tropical Compound Ascidian Trididemnum solidum. III. Symbiotic Association with Unicellular Algae. Marine Ecology Progress Series 6:53-59
World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), 2010. Trididemnum solidum (Van Name, 1902).
Summary: Available from: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=251537[Accessed 26 July 2010]
Contact
The following 0 contacts offer information an advice on Trididemnum solidum
Trididemnum solidum
Mattenseescheide, ascidie blanche encro�tante, sinascidia entapizante, overgrowing mat tunicate
Date assessed
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Recommended citation
(2024). Trididemnum solidum. IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT).