[3] The role this sea moss plays in its native habitat is to feed the fish in the surrounding area.

Once they attach to the surface of the coral they have the ability to endure high wave energy environments.

Once this species invades the coral reefs or the surrounding area it allows for the settlement of epiphytes and shelter for the mesograzers.

[2] This species was considered an introduced many countries with the sole main purpose of increasing the commercial aquaculture carrageenan industry; the carrageenan is a biopolymer extracted from algae and used extensively in the food industry for the formation of gels to stabilize fat in food with dairy products.

Kappaphycus alverezil Has been introduced to a lot of different countries around the world for aquaculture purposes.

Some of the countries that this species has been introduced to include China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Tanzania, and the United States.

They attach loosely to the broken coral or floating fragments in the shallow deep waters.

The high growth rate, plastic morphology, and extremely successful vegetative regeneration makes it this species potentially destructive invasives in Hawaiian waters.

This species has been highly successful at Kaneohe Bay, dominating the sandy spur and grooves on the reef flat.

It is a major producer of kappa-carrageenan, which is used for medicinal purposes and as a homogenizer in milk products, toothpaste, and jellies.

Though there is evidence of the widespread of this species, there aren't enough studies that prove or show the ecological impacts they have on the reefs communities.

[6] The Elkhorn sea moss has also been killed by copper sulfate, temperature gradients, rock salt, and chlorine bleach.

These methods used show a high mortality rate of the elkhorn sea moss in the areas.

It is also used for suspension or stabilization in a wide range of pharmaceutical carriers, processed food products, and cosmetics.

Carrageenans are used in a variety of commercial applications as gelling, thickening, and stabilizing agents, especially in food products such as frozen desserts, chocolate milk, cottage cheese, whipped cream, instant products, yogurt, jellies, pet foods, and sauces.

In native extraction, the seaweed is made into an aqueous solution, and the residue is filtered, leaving nearly pure carrageenan.