Hobbies And Interests
Appearance
Enteromorpha attaches to rocks or ships in clusters, holding on with disc-shaped suckers. It has long hair-like fronds that are from 8 to 16 inches long. The fronds are sometimes tubular or may be flat like grass blades. The fronds sometimes develop into branching shapes. It is bright green, though parts may become bleached white where exposed to sunlight. Enteromorpha is known by many common names, such as green string lettuce, sea hair and green confetti.
Distribution
The green seaweed is highly adaptable and is found in the the world's major oceans, in salt marshes and on inland waterways. Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Hawaii and California are among those dealing with its sometimes invasive nature. In coastal regions near heavy residential and industrial developments, changes in the ocean favor excessive growth of enteromorpha. High levels of fertilizer runoff increase the salinity and nutrients in ocean waters, creating ideal conditions for the seaweed to grow rapidly.
Environmental Problems
Warm waters and high nutrient conditions combined can lead to algae bloom outbreaks. As it dies, algae bacteria sucks out oxygen from below, leaving long lasting dead zones in the ocean. Washed ashore, thick stinking algae coats beaches. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Chinese organizers had fishermen gathering algae in boats to prevent cancelation of sailing races. In June, 2010, the tourist destination of Qingdao, which had hosted Olympic sailors, was hit again along its coastline, this time by 170 square miles of algae bloom. Shipping lines battle the algae, which attaches to ships, creating a hazard.
Algae: Food &Fuel
Seaweeds are a delicacy in many cultures. Crispy fried seaweed was once a traditional topping on Chinese dishes. Gutweed (enteromorpha intestinalis), named for its unfortunate resemblance to intestines, is eaten fried or in soup. Other green algae are also edible.
Various algae strains are being researched as a possible biofuel alternative by American biotech companies such as Sapphire Energy and Synthetic Genomics. Sapphire Energy is setting up a federally funded project of algae ponds in the New Mexico desert. Synthetic Genomics, funded by $300 million from Exxon Mobil, recently opened an algae-growing greenhouse in San Diego.