CHAETOMORPHA BALLS FOUL NEW HAMPSHIRE, USA BEACHES

Abstract

Large populations of green balls washed ashore at Plaice Cove on North Beach, Hampton, New Hampshire, USA during June, 2002 and were reported in various local and national newspapers and magazines. The thread-like green alga Chaetomorpha picquotiana made up 79% of the balls' fresh weight, which averaged 26.6±3.8 g and 5.9±0.3 cm in diameter. Based on photographs, there were about 223 balls m–2 on North Beach on June 12 that had disappeared by early July, 2002. The balls contained 30 species, including 20 …