Cladophora
Encyclopedia
Cladophora is a genus of reticulated filament
ous Ulvophyceae
(green algae). The genus Cladophora contains many species that are very hard to tell apart and classify, mainly because of the great variation in their appearances, which is affected by habitat, age and environmental conditions. Unlike Spirogyra
the filaments of Cladophora branch and it doesn't undergo conjugation. There are two multicellular stages in its life cycle - a haploid gametophyte
and a diploid sporophyte
- which look highly similar. The only way to tell the two stages apart is to either count their chromosome
s, or examine their offspring. The haploid gametophyte produces haploid gametes by mitosis
and the diploid sporophyte produces haploid spores by meiosis
. The only visible difference between the gametes and spores of Cladophora is that the gametes have two flagella and the spores have four. The Cladophora species can be a major nuisance causing major alteration to benthic conditions linked particularly with increased phosphorus
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, Cladophara spp. (ໄຄ kʰáj "river weed" or more precisely ໄຄຫີນ kʰáj hǐːn "rock river weed") are commonly eaten as a delicacy and usually know in English under the name "Mekong weed". The algae grow on underwater rocks and thrive in clear spots of water in the Mekong river basin. They are harvested 1 to 5 months a year and most often eaten in dry sheets (ໄຄແຜ່ນ [kʰáj pʰɛ̄ːn] -kháy sheets-), much like Japanese nori
, though much cruder in their format. Luang Prabang
's speciality is dry khai with sesame, while Vang Vieng
is famous for its roasted kháy sheets. They can be eaten in strips as an appetizer or with a meal. Luang Prabang kháy sheets are the most readily available form of Mekong Weed and are famous throughout the country and in the neighbouring Isaan, though difficult to find beyond Vientiane
. Mekong weed can also be eaten raw, in soups, or cooked - as in a Lao amok
preparation called ຫມົກໄຄ [mók kʰáj].
in the United States. Quagga mussel
populations have also increased tremendously in the same time frame.
Filament
-In physics and electrical engineering:* An electrical filament used to emit light in an Incandescent light bulb* Similarly, a thin heating element* Current filament* Filament propagation, diffractionless propagation of a light beam...
ous Ulvophyceae
Ulvophyceae
The Ulvophyceae or Ulvophytes are class of green algae, distinguished mainly on the basis of ultrastructural morphology. The sea lettuce, Ulva, belongs here. Other well-known members include Ulothrix and Acetabularia....
(green algae). The genus Cladophora contains many species that are very hard to tell apart and classify, mainly because of the great variation in their appearances, which is affected by habitat, age and environmental conditions. Unlike Spirogyra
Spirogyra
Spirogyra is a genus of filamentous green algae of the order Zygnematales, named for the helical or spiral arrangement of the chloroplasts that is diagnostic of the genus. It is commonly found in freshwater areas, and there are more than 400 species of Spirogyra in the world. Spirogyra measures...
the filaments of Cladophora branch and it doesn't undergo conjugation. There are two multicellular stages in its life cycle - a haploid gametophyte
Gametophyte
A gametophyte is the haploid, multicellular phase of plants and algae that undergo alternation of generations, with each of its cells containing only a single set of chromosomes....
and a diploid sporophyte
Sporophyte
All land plants, and some algae, have life cycles in which a haploid gametophyte generation alternates with a diploid sporophyte, the generation of a plant or algae that has a double set of chromosomes. A multicellular sporophyte generation or phase is present in the life cycle of all land plants...
- which look highly similar. The only way to tell the two stages apart is to either count their chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
s, or examine their offspring. The haploid gametophyte produces haploid gametes by mitosis
Mitosis
Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its cell nucleus into two identical sets, in two separate nuclei. It is generally followed immediately by cytokinesis, which divides the nuclei, cytoplasm, organelles and cell membrane into two cells containing roughly...
and the diploid sporophyte produces haploid spores by meiosis
Meiosis
Meiosis is a special type of cell division necessary for sexual reproduction. The cells produced by meiosis are gametes or spores. The animals' gametes are called sperm and egg cells....
. The only visible difference between the gametes and spores of Cladophora is that the gametes have two flagella and the spores have four. The Cladophora species can be a major nuisance causing major alteration to benthic conditions linked particularly with increased phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
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Laotian Mekong Weed
In LaosLaos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Cladophara spp. (ໄຄ kʰáj "river weed" or more precisely ໄຄຫີນ kʰáj hǐːn "rock river weed") are commonly eaten as a delicacy and usually know in English under the name "Mekong weed". The algae grow on underwater rocks and thrive in clear spots of water in the Mekong river basin. They are harvested 1 to 5 months a year and most often eaten in dry sheets (ໄຄແຜ່ນ [kʰáj pʰɛ̄ːn] -kháy sheets-), much like Japanese nori
Nori
is the Japanese name for various edible seaweed species of the red alga Porphyra including most notably P. yezoensis and P. tenera, sometimes called laver. Finished products are made by a shredding and rack-drying process that resembles papermaking...
, though much cruder in their format. Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, or Louangphrabang , is a city located in north central Laos, where the Nam Khan river meets the Mekong River about north of Vientiane. It is the capital of Luang Prabang Province...
's speciality is dry khai with sesame, while Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is a tourism-oriented town in Laos, located in Vientiane Province about four hours bus ride north of the capital. The town lies on the Nam Song river. The most notable feature of the area is the karst hill landscape surrounding the town.-History:...
is famous for its roasted kháy sheets. They can be eaten in strips as an appetizer or with a meal. Luang Prabang kháy sheets are the most readily available form of Mekong Weed and are famous throughout the country and in the neighbouring Isaan, though difficult to find beyond Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
. Mekong weed can also be eaten raw, in soups, or cooked - as in a Lao amok
Amok (dish)
In South-East Asian cuisine, "mok" or "amok" refers to the process of steam cooking a curry in banana leaves, or to the resulting dish. Thick coconut gravy and galangal are classic ingredients, added to a wide range of possible kinds of leaves and staple ingredients...
preparation called ຫມົກໄຄ [mók kʰáj].
Invasive Species
Cladophora is accused of damaging the fishing industry and shoreline property values along the Great LakesGreat Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
in the United States. Quagga mussel
Quagga mussel
The quagga mussel is a subspecies of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk.It is one of seven Dreissena species and has an average life span of 3 to 5 years....
populations have also increased tremendously in the same time frame.
Diversity
Species include:- Cladophora aegagrophila
- Cladophora albida
- Cladophora brasiliana
- Cladophora catenata
- Cladophora coelothrix
- Cladophora columbiana
- Cladophora dalmatica
- Cladophora fracta
- Cladophora glomerata
- Cladophora graminea
- Cladophora montagneana
- Cladophora ordinata
- Cladophora prolifera
- Cladophora rupestris
- Cladophora scopaeformis
- Cladophora sericea
- Cladophora vagabunda
External links
- Images of Cladophora at AlgaebaseAlgaeBaseAlgaeBase is a global species database of information on all groups of algae, as well as one group of flowering plants, the sea-grasses.AlgaeBase evolved from Michael Guiry's seaweed website, and has grown into a database of algae from throughout the world, and in freshwater, terrestrial, and...