New research reveals theyre actually individuals within a giant seaweed cloneperhaps the largest clone known to science.
A clone is a genetically identical copy of an organism, naturally resulting from asexual reproduction.
Normally, female bladderwrack seaweed plants reproduce through sexual fertilization with male bladderwrack seaweed plants.
Bladderwrack seaweed.© Kerstin Johannesson
In fact, the bladderwrack clone might be the biggest known clone overall.
However, clones do not contribute to the genetic diversity that typically strengthens species against threats to their populations.
The Baltic Sea is entering a period of warmer and probably even fresher seawater.
Conversely, if all individuals share the same disease-prone genetics, the entire population could be wiped out.
During its research, the team also discovered another small and bushy seaweed species.
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