Killer Algae (7 of 20)

The toxin is called caulerpenine and the concentration was higher than in any other algae Pohnert had ever analysed.
Pohnert discovered that although the toxin was not lethal to humans or animals, it made the plant almost totally inedible and if nothing would eat it there was nothing to stop the algae's advance.
If it took over, the Mediterranean's animal life would be forced to flee or starve to death.
Alexandre Meinesz now believed he was dealing with not just any invasive plant, but an exceptionally harmful and vigorous organism.
As the algae continued to spread, growing at twice the speed of indigenous plants, he worried that the situation could rapidly get out of control unless something was done to stop it.

There was one hope.
The colony of algae lay directly under the walls of one of Europe's most prestigious marine research and conservation organisations: the Monaco Oceanographic Museum.
Meinesz felt sure the Museum would help him.
It would take money, resources and government involvement, but Meinesz was confident the Museum would be able to persuade the French authorities to eradicate the algae before it spread further.
He was in for a shock.
The Museum is run by Professor Francois Doumenge, one of France's most influential marine biologists.
He is Director of an institution which, for nearly a century, has championed oceanographic conservation and preserved the riches of the sea in a series of palatial galleries.