“Because of their worldwide distribution and capacity to alter native communities, non-indigenous algae are potentially important agents of global ecological change.” (Britton-Simmons, 2004)

Sargassum occurs in temperate to tropical waters. Since the 1940s, Sargassum muticum has spread from Japan to Canada, the United States, and Europe where it can have a significant impact on the composition of the native flora and fauna, either via direct or indirect effects.

(Critchley et al., 1983; Stæhr et al., 2000; Britton-Simmons, 2004)