Halophila stipulacea

Winning plant species that are not useful to humans are often considered invasive and able to exploit the conditions associated with intense human impact on the environment. Halophila stipulacea is a good example of this category. A 2006 study identified it as one of the “100 Worst Invasive Alien Species in the Mediterranean” due to its serious negative impacts on marine biodiversity. Native to the Indian Ocean, this species spread into the Mediterranean Sea after the opening of the Suez Canal and is now found in the Caribbean Sea as well.